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Supreme Court rules Illinois home health workers don’t have to join unions

Twenty-six states require private-sector workers to pay union dues

WASHINGTON (June 30, 2014) — A Supreme Court ruling Monday could have major implications on whether or not public-sector workers in 26 states are required to join unions. Stemming from a case in Illinois, the court ruled by a 5-4 vote that the state’s home health care workers who care for a single patient don’t have to pay dues to a union they don’t want to join.

Twenty-six states require public sector workers — such as firefighters, police, teachers — to pay dues to unions that represent them, even if they don’t want to be represented.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote: “This case presents the question whether the First Amendment permits a State to compel personal care providers to subsidize speech on matters of public concern by a union that they do not wish to join or support. We hold that it does not, and we therefore reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals.”