An elementary teacher from Fremont and a Hayward school instructor are among five educators who are suing the California Teachers Association, alleging their First Amendment rights were violated after the teachers’ unions continued to illegally deduct dues after each had revoked their union membership out of political concerns.
The complaint is based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last June on Janus v. AFSCME, said Harmeet Dhillon, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs. The court’s ruling found it was a violation of the First Amendment to compel public sector employees to subsidize union activities of which they do not agree. Following the decision, unions warned membership could dwindle by up to 30 percent.
