Supreme Court unions case: Three reasons why it matters

The case being brought before the Supreme Court focuses on the rights of public sector workers, including teachers, police and firefighters.

Twenty-eight US states have rules that mean that workers in unionised workplaces are not legally bound to join unions as a condition of their employment. Workers there still get the same benefits as unionised workers.

That's not the case with the 20 states and the District of Columbia that went before the Supreme Court on Monday - workers there must either join the union or pay union fees.

The plaintiff in this case is Mark Janus, a child-support specialist in one of those states, Illinois. He chose not to join the union where he works, and says he could lose his job for doing so.

If he wins - as looks possible - it would mean that unions could lose a major source of funding across the country when union fees do not become mandatory.


Source : bbc