Friedrichs’ Oral Arguments Completed

Richard Wolf, USA Today Online, reports on the now closed oral arguments in the Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association case before the Supreme Court.  The case could free public sector workers from being forced to support or join a labor union in order to get or keep their jobs.

The Supreme Court left little doubt Monday where it stands on the issue of requiring all workers in a bargaining unit to help support its public employees union: It’s ready to strike the requirement down.
The court’s more conservative justices sharply criticized the current system whereby public employees in 23 states and the District of Columbia must contribute to the cost of collective bargaining, even if they disagree with their unions’ demands on issues involving public policy.

“The problem is that everything that is collectively bargained with the government is within the political sphere,” said Justice Antonin Scalia, seen as the lone conservative who might side with the unions. “What is bargained for is in all cases a matter of public interest.”