Public unions in Illinois continue on a year after Janus decision

[TexasTowelie]

How have public sector unions fared in the year since the historic U.S. Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME Council 31?

During the debate leading up to the June 27, 2018, decision that proclaimed forced unionization as a condition of employment in public service infringed on free speech rights, unions and others foretold of collapse if they weren’t able to require “fair share dues” from nonunion workers who paid for administrative representation.

In reality, unions in the 22 states without right-to-work laws essentially lost the dues of those who had already expressed their desire to not be associated with them, a financial hit, but far short of the disaster that was predicted. In some cases, unions have reported membership gains.

The losses that hit the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 31, which represents almost 40,000 state workers and was the defendant in the decision, were mostly due to the union's failure to convince non-dues paying members to join the union after the Janus ruling came down. The Chicago Sun-Times, which is owned in part by unions, reported AFSCME Council 31 lost about 6,000 fee-payers but added 1,100 full members. Other public sector unions in Illinois reportedly fared about the same.

Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/public-unions-in-illinois-continue-on-a-year-after-janus/article_b5a246c2-98fc-11e9-91dd-ff48f9534a81.html

[Midnight Writer]

1. i was a union steward in Illinois and I spent most of my time defending non-members.

And in our shop they did not have to pay. I even ended up paying out of pocket when our local's funds ran out.

It is in every worker's interest to belong to a union.

There is no other institution in this country dedicated to helping the working folk.

[blue-wave]

2. "It is in every worker's interest to belong to a union."

Spot-on!! Whenever I hear mumbling and grumbling about my union from other union members, I remind them to imagine working where we do without one. Unions are the only protection workers possess and some members have fought, some giving their lives, for that protection. That usually shuts down the grumbling. After the Janus decision, I was pleased to have convinced a number of co-workers to recommit to the union.

I wish it were mandatory for every worker to visit the Union Miners Cemetery in Mt. Olive, Illinois. It is the final resting place for Mother Jones as well as many other union martyrs.

http://www.motherjonesmuseum.org/site-stories/illinois/union-miners-cemetery/