A 2018 Supreme Court ruling made public-sector union membership entirely voluntary, but many workers still don’t know it. The ruling, known as Janus v. AFSCME, means that union membership is entirely voluntary and public employees may choose to give a portion of their earnings to a union, but they cannot be required to do so as a condition of employment.

Understanding Union Rights

The Washington Policy Center has created a simple, one-page resource to help public employers improve employee awareness about choices available to them. The resource communicates what every public worker deserves to know: they have the right to join a union, they have the right to decline membership, and they cannot be forced to pay dues or fees as a condition of employment.

The resource is designed to provide neutral information, not a sales pitch, and can be included in new hires’ onboarding materials or posted in staff lounges alongside other worker rights information. Public employers can help increase awareness of these rights and provide their employees with the information they need to make informed decisions.

Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.