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Union Station: April 26, 2019
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Welcome to Union Station, our weekly newsletter that keeps you abreast of the legislation, national trends, and public debate surrounding public-sector union policy. This week, we shine a spotlight on Connecticut, where a faculty union at the University of Connecticut recently agreed to refund previously collected union fees to a professor.
State spotlight: American Association of University Professors refunds union fees to University of Connecticut professor
On April 24, 2019, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) agreed to refund more than $5,000 in union fees to a University of Connecticut professor who alleged the fees had been collected in violation of his First Amendment rights. (Source: National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation)
- About the AAUP: The American Association of University Professors is a labor union representing faculty and academic professionals at colleges and universities across the country. According to a report filed with the United States Department of Labor, there were 44,956 dues-paying members as of March 28, 2019. The union's receipts totaled $9,081,364 at that time, and its disbursements totaled $8,685,993.
- Who were the parties to the suit? The plaintiff was Steven Utke, an accounting professor at the University of Connecticut School of Business. The defendant was AAUP, the union representing all faculty at the University of Connecticut.
- What was at issue? Utke filed suit in federal district court on January 14, 2019, alleging the union fees AAUP compelled him to pay violated his First Amendment rights. Utke cited Janus v. AFSCME, in which the Supreme Court ruled that unions cannot require non-member employees to pay agency fees covering the costs of non-political union activities. This decision overturned the Abood v. Detroit Board of Education precedent established in 1977.
- What were the terms of the settlement? AAUP agreed to refund Utke $5,251.48 in fees, plus interest, collected over a period of roughly four years, predating last summer's Janus ruling.
The big picture
Number of relevant bills by state
We are currently tracking 93 pieces of legislation dealing with public-sector employee union policy. On the map below, a darker shade of green indicates a greater number of relevant bills. Click here for a complete list of all the bills we're tracking.
Number of relevant bills by current legislative status
Number of relevant bills by partisan status of sponsor(s)
Recent legislative actions
Below is a complete list of legislative actions on relevant bills since the beginning of the year. Bills are listed in alphabetical order, first by state and then by bill number.
- California AB969: This bill would grant legislative employees the right to form, join, and participate in unions.
- Public Employment and Retirement Committee hearing April 24.
- California AB314: This bill would require employers to grant employees paid time for certain union activities.
- Referred to Appropriations Committee April 23.
- Maine LD1451: This bill would grant collective bargaining agents greater access to employees and employee information. It would also authorize unions to use government buildings for meetings.
- Labor and Housing Committee Hearing April 24.
- Maine LD900: This bill authorizes certain classes of public-sector employees to strike.
- Labor and Housing Committee Hearing April 24.
- Washington HB1575: This bill would declare that public employers and public-sector unions are not liable for claims involving agency fees paid to unions prior to Janus. It would repeal statutes requiring employees to join unions or pay dues as a condition of employment. It would also amend dues deduction authorization laws, allowing authorizations to be initiated via electronic, voice, or written communication and requiring authorizations to be discontinued by a written request made to the union.
- Speaker of the House signed April 23.
See also
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