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In reply to the discussion: Michigan passes public sector "right-to-work" law amid protests [View all]mike_c
(36,281 posts)...but what if one of those non-members was the victim of a contract violation? Would KNEA be required to provide them with grievance representation, which is ultimately quite expensive? Setting aside for a moment the argument that it's in the union's interest to defend it's contract regardless, would her union be required to represent those non-members with contract grievance regardless of membership or fee-payer status?
In my workplace, my union has a "duty of fair representation" because all workers pay union dues, either as members or as non-member fee payers. I'm the grievance officer so I'm intensely aware of that responsibility. And as you say, all members of the bargaining unit receive the benefits of collective bargaining, so it's only right that they should support the union financially even if they choose not to join-- but membership status plays no role in our responsibility to represent EVERYONE in the bargaining unit in such matters as contract grievances, Skelly hearings, Weingarten investigations, and so on.