Liberty Justice Center, Author at Stand With Workers

Cook County Record: Appeals court to decide if unions should refund illegal fees

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it is unconstitutional to require non-union state workers in Illinois to pay “fair share” fees to a union, but a Chicago federal appeals panel is considering whether a union must refund millions of dollars in fees already collected.

The appeal was brought by former state employee Mark Janus to force the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees to reimburse him for “fair share” fees he had to pay the union as a non-union worker. The fees, which were slightly less than union dues, were allowed by Illinois law to cover the union’s costs of collective bargaining and representation.

Mark Janus returns to federal court to request refund of forced union fees outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court

Mark Janus, plaintiff in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME, accompanied by his attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center and National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation will be arguing today before the 7th Circuit Court why he should be refunded the thousands of dollars in illegal union fees taken from his paycheck while a state employee. Oral arguments will begin at 9:30 a.m. CT in room 2721 of the Dirksen Federal Building at 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago. Mark Janus and his attorneys will hold a media availability and press briefing in the lobby of the courthouse. Estimated time of media availability 11 a.m. CT.

Press Release: Minnesota community college employee sues over coerced union membership, illegal dues deduction

MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 17, 2019) – An Inver Grove Heights woman is suing AFSCME Council 5 for pressuring her to sign a union card, providing her with misleading information about union membership and violating her First Amendment rights. She has filed a federal lawsuit with the help of attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center and the Upper Midwest Law Center.

Star Tribune: Union pressured Inver Hills college clerk to join, lawsuit says

A Twin Cities community college employee is suing the union representing campus clerical workers and the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, alleging she was pressured to join the union without receiving sufficient information.

CBS Local 21: Lawsuit – Pennsylvania workers forced to pay union dues

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A class-action lawsuit filed in Harrisburg federal court is seeking as much as $1 million for Pennsylvania social service employees.

The Hill: California workers have constitutional rights — even if unions think they don’t matter

Years ago, when Mike Jackson and Tory Smith started working in the Parking Department at the University of California, San Diego, they assumed they were required to join the public employees’ union. Not that it made much difference whether they joined or not.

Herald Mail Media: Washington County man lead plaintiff in union-fee lawsuit against AFSCME

A Washington County man is leading a class-action lawsuit which aims to return roughly $7 million in union fees Maryland state employees were forced to pay.

Washington Times: Maryland govt. workers sue AFSCME union, demand refunds of illegally collected dues

Nineteen public sector employees in Maryland filed a class action against their labor union this week, demanding a refund for dues they were forced to pay before the Supreme Court outlawed the mandatory fees last year.

Maryland Matters: Aided by Conservative Legal Groups, State Workers Sue to Recoup Union Dues

A group of state government workers on Wednesday sued a public employee union, saying the union improperly collected dues from them even though they never became members.

Fox45 News: Federal lawsuit claims MD state workers were forced to pay union fees, demands refund

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday morning in Federal Court, represents 19 Maryland State Employees including Correctional Dietary Officer, Gary Mattos. “I found out I was paying over $400 a year just to have a state job,” Mattos says, “And I think that’s wrong.”