WASHINGTON, DC — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), in conjunction with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), has filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the right of workers who choose not to join a union — but who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement — to refrain from paying dues for causes they do not support, including organizing campaigns.

The Supreme Court case, filed by the National Right to Work (RTW) Legal Defense Foundation, centers on the RTW’s challenge to a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling, upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, holding that organizing costs may be included in the agency fees charged to non-union workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement’s union security clause.

In their brief, ABC and NAM said the 9th Circuit Court’s ruling conflicts directly with two U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Ellis vs. BRAC (1984) and CWA vs. Beck (1988), which upheld the right of non-union workers who are covered by collective bargaining agreements to refrain from paying dues for union-organizing efforts.