CIR files amicus in Illinois union case

Together with lead counsel Michael Carvin, CIR today filed an amicus brief in Harris v. Quinn, a case challenging an Illinois statute that requires home healthcare workers to be represented by a union even though the terms of employment are set by statute and not subject to collective bargaining.  The purpose of the compelled union representation in that case appears to be to force home health care workers to accept the services of a union for the purpose of lobbying state and federal legislators.  The brief argues that compelled unionization violates the free speech and association rights of individuals under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.  The case could be an important precursor to CIR’s challenge of compulsory union dues in Friedrichs v. CTA.