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Dispute over union fees could return to Supreme Court

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2011, file photo, Karen Wallace, right, and Meryleigh Brainerd, left, both teachers in Calaveras County, join in a candlelight vigil in front of the state Capitol to express sympathy with union members in Wisconsin in Sacramento, Calif. Powerful public-sector unions are facing another high-profile legal challenge that they say could wipe away millions from their bank accounts and make it tougher for them to survive. A group of California schoolteachers, backed by a conservative group, has asked the Supreme Court to rule that unions representing government workers can't collect fees from those who choose not to join. The case comes as officials in Wisconsin and other states dealing with budged deficits have worked to reduce bargaining rights for public employees. (AP Photo/Robert Durell, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2011, file photo, Karen Wallace, right, and Meryleigh Brainerd, left, both teachers in Calaveras County, join in a candlelight vigil in front of the state Capitol to express sympathy with union members in Wisconsin in Sacramento, Calif. Powerful public-sector unions are facing another high-profile legal challenge that they say could wipe away millions from their bank accounts and make it tougher for them to survive. A group of California schoolteachers, backed by a conservative group, has asked the Supreme Court to rule that unions representing government workers can't collect fees from those who choose not to join. The case comes as officials in Wisconsin and other states dealing with budged deficits have worked to reduce bargaining rights for public employees. (AP Photo/Robert Durell, File) FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2011, file photo, Karen Wallace, right, and Meryleigh Brainerd, left, both teachers in Calaveras County, join in a candlelight vigil in front of the state Capitol to express sympathy with union members in Wisconsin in Sacramento, Calif. Powerful public-sector unions are facing another high-profile legal challenge that they say could wipe away millions from their bank accounts and make it tougher for them to survive. A group of California schoolteachers, backed by a conservative group, has asked the Supreme Court to rule that unions representing government workers can't collect fees from those who choose not to join. The case comes as officials in Wisconsin and other states dealing with budged deficits have worked to reduce bargaining rights for public employees. (AP Photo/Robert Durell, File)

By Associated Press 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Powerful public-sector unions are facing another high-profile legal challenge that they say could wipe away millions from their bank accounts and make it tougher to survive.

A group of California schoolteachers, backed by a conservative group, wants the Supreme Court to rule that unions representing government workers can’t collect fees from those who choose not to join.

Half the states currently require state workers represented by a union to pay “fair share” fees covering bargaining costs, even if they are not members. The justices could decide as soon as next week whether to take the case.

Union opponents say it violates the First Amendment to require fees from nonmembers that may go to causes they don’t support. They want the high court to overturn a 38-year-old precedent allowing the fees.