by: AIA New York
On June 27, 2018, the US Supreme Court decided Janus v. AFSCME, a landmark case regarding the ability of unions to collect fees from non-union members. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that public sector unions could not force non-members to pay “agency fees,” fees collected from non-members who are required to be covered in collective bargaining agreements. The decision forces public sector unions to negotiate for employees without those employees having to contribute to the union for doing so. For the hundreds of thousands of public sector union members, including architects, in the New York metropolitan area, the decision could weaken their ability to negotiate for good contracts.
See the entire statement below:
Recently, the US Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that nonunion workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions representing them in collective bargaining. There is reason to believe that this will deplete the power and protections that unions afford public sector workers.
The results of this ruling are of deep concern to AIA New York. We are proud to represent a diverse range of architects and allied professionals, including many who work for the government at the federal, state, and local levels.
We recognize the potential threats of this ruling to the livelihood of our public sector members. While the US Department of Justice does not allow us to advocate for architects’ wages or fees, we are permitted to advocate on their behalf with regards to issues affecting the livelihood of our members.
Many of the issues most paramount to our public sector members are among our highest priorities. Increased mass transit funding, safer and better designed correctional facilities, and more sustainably designed City-owned office buildings are just some of the issues for which AIANY is currently advocating.
AIANY has and will continue to be in communication with public sector unions to ensure that the voices and interests of architects remain strongly represented within federal, state, and city agencies.
If you have any questions about the advocacy work AIANY is doing on your behalf, please reach out to Adam Roberts, Government Affairs Coordinator, at 212-358-6116 or aroberts@aiany.org.
Sincerely,
Gerard F. X. Geier II, FAIA, FIIDA, LEED AP
President
Benjamin Prosky, Assoc. AIA
Executive Director
You can learn more about our recent positions in our Advocacy section.