In giving Americans the right to deliver any messages they please, the First Amendment strongly implies they cannot be forced to deliver messages that they find objectionable. Granted, workers are entitled to a refund on the portion of their dues used for politicking. But the administration has ordered removal of signs informing them of those rights. Besides, workers often spend more money on legal fees to collect than they could ever recover. If workers had a right not to pay dues, the right to partial refunds would not be such an important issue.
Supporters say compulsory dues are necessary to prop up big labor's sagging fortunes.
The problem is that compulsory dues give union bosses power over not just members, but over non-members who want nothing to do with them. If unions cannot attract and hold enough members, a better solution would be for them to find ways to become relevant so more people would pay dues voluntarily. Not surprisingly, those states have unusually healthy economies. A bill was introduced in Congress last year, but Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., filibustered it to death. Many members of Congress are opposed, however, because they don't want to offend major campaign contributors.