What could you do with an extra $14,000? Buy a new car? Put a down payment on a home? Build your child’s college fund? I can think of many ways to spend this, but unfortunately, I had no choice but to hand it over to a union simply because I’m a public school teacher in Ohio, where people can be fired for not paying money to a union.
Over the 15 years I’ve taught in my small district, I estimate I’ve paid $14,000 in union fees and dues, but an end to this injustice is finally in sight. This morning, the Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that government employees like me cannot be forced to pay a union just to work in public service. An enormous weight has been lifted off our shoulders.
