AFPF-MN Launches Mail Drop on Teacher Opt-Out

Sep 27, 2018 by AFP

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Coinciding with the opt-out period for teachers to leave their unions, Americans for Prosperity’s sister organization, Americans for Prosperity Foundation – Minnesota, launched a mail campaign educating teachers about their newly reaffirmed rights to opt-out of paying union dues. The opt-out period is between September 24-30.

The landmark Supreme Court decision decided earlier this year, Janus v. AFSCME, enabled public employees to opt out of joining a union and paying dues. Before Janus, unions could require public employees to pay fees covering collective bargaining costs and forcing people to fund speech with which they disagree.

Americans for Prosperity Foundation – Minnesota State Director Jason Flohrs issued the following statement:

“The Janus decision was monumental for worker freedom and empowered public employees to no longer be coerced into paying for a union they don’t want. We are working to educate state employees across Minnesota that they no longer have to join a union and pay dues just to keep their job. Teachers deserve to know they are free to exercise their First Amendment rights and decide what’s best for them and their families.”

Click here to view the mailer

Background:

At issue in the Janus case was the power of labor unions to collect “fair share” or “agency fees” from public employees who have opted out of the union in their workplace.

Mark Janus is a public employee in Illinois that challenged the condition that public workers are required to pay fees to union officials as a condition of working for the government and serving the public. Janus argued because his employer’s collective bargaining affects public policy issues like pension liabilities, taxes, spending, and more that bargaining equates to lobbying and political speech.

Read Jason Flohrs’ op-ed on the Janus case in the Duluth News Tribune here.