Why the public employee unions tremble

Published June 2, 2017 8:47pm ET



Should government employees be allowed to opt out of belonging to or paying a labor union? And can state governments force them to pay a union for the privilege of working?

Under the 1977 Supreme Court decision Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, the states can force them to pay, and they cannot opt out completely, although they have a can’t be forced to pay for union political activities.

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