Abood v. Detroit Board of Education (1977) said that requiring government
employees to pay union dues that weren’t used for political purposes did
not violate the First Amendment.
Union Regulations
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that that an Illinois law allowing government
employee unions to collect fees from non-members violates the First
Amendment. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the 2018 opinion in Janus v. American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, saying the rule was a
form of compelled speech.
Illinois government employee Mark Janus, center, turns after thanking supporters outside the Supreme Court, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The Supreme Court ruled in June 2018 that an Illinois law that allows unions representing government employees to collect fees from workers who choose not to join is impermissible under the First Amendment as a form of
In 1982, the Supreme Court upheld a federal law that prohibited candidates
for union leadership positions from accepting contributions from non-union
members in United Steelworkers v. Sadlowski. “Oilcan Eddie” Edward
Sadlowski had mounted a campaign for the presidency of the Steelworkers and
challenged the restriction.
In 1971, the Supreme Court reversed an injunction that prevented a union
from providing legal advice and services to members, saying it interfered
with the rights of association enjoyed under the First Amendment. In United
Transportation Union v. State Bar of Michigan, the Court pointed to its
previous rulings in union cases.