The public sector employees who felt compelled to pay union fees or dues to unions they did not belong to are probably celebrating the recent Supreme Court ruling that claimed it was a violation of the First Amendment on free speech (see Elliott Epstein’s Rearview Mirror article “Supreme Court’s Janus decision upsets union balance, in the Sun Journal July 8.)
Now, consequently, they are no longer compelled to have the so-called “fair share” dues or fees taken out of their pay.
That sounds like a very delightful victory for them. The victory, however, could very possibly hit them in the face in the future. The financial support those “free riders” refuse to provide to the unions that look out for their benefits could possibly lead to the downfall of those unions and, over time, to the loss of some of the benefits that those people presently enjoy.
When the day comes that they find themselves forced to choose between putting food on the table versus getting some needed medical attention, or find themselves unable to retire because they cannot afford it (predicaments that many employees presently find themselves in due to lack of unionization), it will, unfortunately be too late to take their heads out of the sand. The damage was done when they refused to support their unions.
I hope they take their heads out of the sand before it is too late.
Donald LaBranche, Lewiston
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