Supreme Court says union must give notice to nonmembers before collecting dues increase [View all]
Source: Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that unions must give nonmembers an immediate chance to object to unexpected fee increases or special assessments that all workers are required to pay in closed-shop situations.
The court ruled for Dianne Knox and other nonmembers of the Service Employees International Union’s Local 1000, who wanted to object and opt out of a $12 million special assessment the union required from its California public sector members for political campaigning. Knox and others said the union did not give them a legally required notice that the increase was coming.
The union, and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said the annual notice that the union gives was sufficient. The high court disagreed in a 7-2 judgment written by Justice Samuel Alito.
“When a public-sector union imposes a special assessment or dues increase, the union must provide a fresh ... notice and may not exact any funds from nonmembers without their affirmative consent,” Alito said.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-says-union-must-give-notice-to-nonmembers-before-collecting-dues-increase/2012/06/21/gJQAPKbksV_story.html
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