Tag: Collective bargaining

(CNN)On Wednesday, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling that could cripple public-sector unions -- and speed up organized labor's increasing fade as a powerhouse in American politics. This court decision comes almost a decade after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker won a years-long battle to drastically reduce collective bargaining rights for public employees in the Badger State. Walker beat back a recall effort driven by distaste with collective bargaining move -- and is running for a third term in 2018. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, membership in the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association has dropped 30% since Act 10 -- the collective bargaining law -- went into effect. Union members made up 14.2% of workers before Act 10, but just 8.3% in 2015. Tweeted Trump: "Supreme Court rules in favor of non-union workers who are now, as an example, able to support a candidate of his or her choice without having those who control the Union deciding for them. Court precedent, however, long held that you couldn't force non-members to pay fees for political activity -- Wednesday's ruling was about fees charged for issues related to collective bargaining. In the 2016 election, labor unions spent more than $217 million on political activities, with that money overwhelmingly going to Democratic candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The court decision Wednesday is likely to accelerate union struggles -- both in terms of labor's organizing ability, bargaining power and political might.