Labor Commission: State Needs Annual Permission To Take Union Dues From Most State Workers
Gives teeth to 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling
Most Michigan state agencies will have to get affirmative consent from employees on an annual basis before withholding any union dues from their paychecks.
The Michigan Civil Service Commission ordered the rule change July 13.
The change is said to align state practice with the 2018 Supreme Court decision Janus v. AFSCME.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that requiring government employees to pay union dues as a condition of employment violates their First Amendment right to free speech and free association. This applies to all government employees nationwide. The Michigan Civil Service Commission order specifically applies to state employees subject to its authority.
The Supreme Court held in June 2018 that employees must give “clear and compelling evidence” that they agree to have dues taken from their paychecks.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.