Even if it survives likely legal challenges, new union will not compel members to pay dues

(St. Paul, MN) – Republican legislators tentatively welcomed the formation of a new public employee union affecting Personal Care Attendants (PCAs), saying it would be the first union in Minnesota to operate under the concept of employee freedom.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the employee freedom rights of PCA’s in Illinois giving them the choice of whether or not to pay any dues. It also prohibited the government and the union from forcing the employees to pay any form of “fair share” dues. The same protection would apply to Minnesota PCA’s, assuming the new union survives the legal challenges it faces based on how it was formed.

“In the unlikely event this new union survives a court challenge – which we support – it will serve as an excellent case study for how a union can operate in an employee freedom environment,” said Senator Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville). “If the union provides value for its members, it will survive. If it doesn’t, it will lose membership and die. Either way, employees will have the freedom to make those decisions without the heavy hand of government forcing its way.”

“It’s important for all PCA’s in Minnesota to understand they do not have to pay dues to this new union,” added Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa). “This should be the model for all public employee unions in our state – where the right to join or not join a union is given the same protection as the right to form a union in the first place.”