Today, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered a 4-4 decision on the case of Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association. Fredrichs wanted to receive the benefits of collective bargaining without paying dues to the union. She wanted to be a “free rider.” The untimely death of Justice Scalia, however, eliminated the possibility that Friedrichs would win. The tie vote is a victory for the union, because nothing changes.

There’s a pro and con, a duality in every decision. Yes, unions can survive another day but for what good? If our unions continue to collude and collaborate with management to the detriment of its membership, is that the future we want for unions. Maybe if unions lost this case, a new alignment of activism and dedication to their first purpose, protect the rights and benefits of its membership. The effects of our compromised unions are showing in our decreased wages and benefits and a general distrust of unions among our young workers. We however know how instrumental unions have been in the well being of our working class. Bring back that work ethic for our young
Workers, please.
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Friedrichs, supported by right wing law firms, didn’t want to pay “agency fee” for representation (not dues). This has been established law for 40 years and has provided whatever rights we teachers have. And, in all respect, someone dying in their late seventies in a peaceful manner, perhaps is not “untimely.” I would consider myself lucky to have that fate.
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Lauren, I paused on the word “untimely.” May have been better to say “sudden” or “unexpected.” I am 77 and counting the days.
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So, Scalia finally did something good!
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So encouraged to read this!
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“A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.”- Max Planck
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GREAT NEWS! Considering the women who brought suit was just being bought by the broad and his billionaire followers who are anti-union and are just finding ways to fill the pockets of the friends. They can care less about kids.
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Leave it to a poet to understand the meaning of “literal.” Thanks!
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To all appearnces, the heavyweights and main beneficiaries of self-styled “education reform” run with the crowd that derides “moochers” and “free loaders.”
Irony, thy name is “rheephorm.”
😎
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Scalia’s death is the rebirth of our power unions and this is great news as we shove the crap right up the ass of the fake Koch bros who were funding this massive law suit to push forward their extreme right wing ideology designed to destroy the working class people of this country. One mans loss is another mans conquer and the unions of this country who support our dedicated public service educators get a chance to puff smoke at the Koch bros who can now go back to the drawing board and look for more ways to destroy our country. Stay in Wisconsin Koch bros. and go have some beers with your once wonder boy no other that Mr. Scott midget Walker who was the cover boy who suddenly developed pimples all over his face after the donald put his crap to bed. Remember Scott Walker screaming every day how unions were no good and that he had to get rid of them??? This guy talked his way out of the presidential race after speaking daily about unions unions unions as this guy walker was getting off on taking down unions. Scott Walker putted around with jeans and sneakers looking like he was a “regular” American but yet he was a robot for the Koch bros and their ill fated cash which can be shoved right up their xxx……we all know the answer. peace out people live on.
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God is on our side.
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Has anyone, say like SCOTUS blog weighed in on the merits of the respective opinions on the case yet? The ideological split here couldn’t be more clear, and I’m curious as to what exactly the supporters of Friederichs found worthy in the arguments.
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Do’t know if this helps you, Jon: http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/14-915_e2p3.pdf
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Just read the oral arguments. Quite interesting the give and take that went on. From Thomas? Nothing. Not that I’d expect any different. To me it sounded like Abood would have been reversed if Scalia hadn’t passed away. It would have put a huge nail in the coffin right through the heart of the unions making it almost impossible for them to “rise again”. Sometimes dead luck intervenes.
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Sometimes dead luck intervenes.’
Or maybe it was part of the deal Scalia (a Catholic) had to make with God to be admitted to Heaven.
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Sorry, SomeDam Poet, but that deal was more likely made to provide Scalia with some minor privileges in Hell, maybe to even allow him to go hunting for souls with the Big Guy Himself, for – if it literally exists – Hell is most certainly where Scalia is right now.
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minor privileges?
you mean like a fan?
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“Fans of Hell”
“I need a fan
It’s hot as Hell”
Scalia said to God
“Oh, I’m your man
I’ll treat you well”
Said Satan, with a nod
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Please read Governor John Bel Edwards response to the WSJ about public education and the need for accountability for vouchers and charters. i think he needs one of your hero shout outs.
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Gretchen,
I will search for the WSJ article
It is behind a paywall and I don’t subscribe
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This is great news and a bit of good luck for public union members and those who choose not to join the union but pay an agency fee instead. This is the case Justice Alito asked for to end public unions.
Of moments about Scalia, Scalia helped get Sen Warren elected when Scott Brown told all of Mass. following their senate race debate that Scalia was Scott’s favorite Supreme Court justice. Now Scalia, postmortem, helped uphold the CA Court that decided Freidrichs’ first amendment rights are not abridged by public unions. The more I see Scalia in the light, the more I like his politics.
I thought this case was about striking down the agency fee accommodation for public employees who, exercising their 1st amendment of association, choose not to join the public union, but as they are required under the labor law to be represented by the union in a unionized shop, pay an agency fee in lieu of membership dues which covers the cost of collective bargaining and union representation but not political spending. To declare agency fees for non-member unconstitutional is an existential issue for public unions because half the country would have no interest in fixing it, like the voting rights act.
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