The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the Illinois law requiring non-union public sector workers to pay “fair share” fees, in a victory for Governor Bruce Rauner and a setback for union influence around the country.
Plaintiff Mark Janus had argued that his constitutional rights were violated because he was forced to provide financial support to a union that he opposed and didn’t wish to join. AFSCME had argued that the fees were for the services and representation that Janus was provided as a member of the bargaining unit.
The decision — overturning a precedent dating back to the 1970s — is seen as weakening unions by leaving them with fewer dues-paying members and fewer resources to fight for their interests in the political arena. It’s a win for Rauner, who made the elimination of fair share fees an early goal of his tenure as governor.