Impact of Janus v. AFSCME on Public Sector Unions

The Janus v. AFSCME case significantly weakened public sector unions by ruling that non-union members cannot be compelled to pay agency fees, which support the collective bargaining efforts of unions. The Supreme Court decided that mandatory fees infringe on an individual's First Amendment rights, as it constitutes forced speech, making it impossible for unions to operate effectively without funding from all beneficiaries of their negotiations. As a result, unions like AFSCME experienced a drastic decrease in non-member fees and financial strain, undermining their bargaining power and the representation of their members. This decision reflects a broader conservative agenda targeting union strength, especially public employee unions, which are perceived as politically mobilizing for Democrats.