Class-Action Lawsuits Targeting Unions Filed in 7 States

Class-action lawsuits have been filed targeting unions in seven states ahead of a Supreme Court decision that will determine the constitutionality of mandatory fees, The Washington Free Beacon reports.

Public-sector workers are aiming to recoup back wages they paid to labor unions as they await the High Court's decision on the case, "Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees," the Free Beacon reports.

The lawsuits targeting eight unions have been filed in:

• New York.
• New Jersey.
• Pennsylvania.
• Minnesota.
• Maryland.
• California.
• Washington.

Former Texas solicitor general Jonathan Mitchell filed each of the suits.

"Janus" is the most serious threat yet to unions given the likelihood that the Supreme Court will overturn its own 1977 "Abood" decision that mandatory "fair share" fees are constitutional even if workers decided against joining the union.

If the Supreme Court strikes down "Abood" and rules in favor of plaintiff Mark Janus, it could have a deleterious effect on public unions in terms of funding and membership.

The Supreme Court's decision is expected Monday.

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