Author: Janie Valentine

  • Two candidates running for district attorney in North Carolina’s 26th Prosecutorial District

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    Incumbent Spencer Merriweather and Tim Emry are running in the Democratic primary for district attorney of North Carolina’s 26th Prosecutorial District in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on May 17, 2022. No candidates filed to run in the Republican primary. Gov. Roy Cooper (D) appointed Merriweather as district attorney in November 2017. Merriweather ran for a…

  • Idaho Republican gubernatorial primary includes sitting governor and lieutenant governor for first time since 1938

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    Eight candidates are running in the Republican primary for governor of Idaho on May 17. Incumbent Gov. Brad Little and Janice McGeachin, the state’s current lieutenant governor, lead in fundraising and media attention. Idaho is one of 17 states where the lieutenant governor is nominated in a separate primary and elected in a separate general…

  • Colorado bill would give county employees collective bargaining rights

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    The “Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act,” SB22-230, was introduced in the Colorado state Senate on April 25.  About the bill SB22-230 would give county employees the right to join a union and bargain collectively beginning in 2023. It would not permit employees to strike.  The bill’s prime sponsors are Senate President Stephen Fenberg (D),…

  • Pennsylvania musician files suit related to Janus

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    Musician Glen Wilkofsky sued the American Federation of Musicians, Local 45, and the Allentown Symphony Association on April 11, alleging that the Supreme Court’s 2018 Janus v. AFSCME decision should apply to symphony association employees. Depending on the outcome of the case, it could have implications for employees of other grant-receiving organizations who bargain under…

  • Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signs bill prohibiting public spending on union activities

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    Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signs bill prohibiting public spending on union activities   On April 6, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed SB1166, prohibiting public-sector employers from spending public funds on a union’s political or lobbying activities.  About the bill Sen. Vince Leach (R) introduced SB1166 on Jan. 13, 2022. The bill states, “A public employer…

  • California School Boards Association will not renew National School Boards Association membership

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    California School Boards Association (CSBA) president Susan Heredia announced in a letter to CSBA members that the organization will not be renewing its membership in the National School Boards Association (NSBA) at the end of the current membership period. At a board meeting on March 26, the CSBA board of directors voted not to renew…

  • Lawsuit claiming public-sector employees must be informed of Janus rights dismissed

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    U.S. district judge dismisses Illinois teacher’s claim that public-sector unions must inform employees of Janus rights    On March 28, Judge John F. Kness of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed an Illinois teacher’s lawsuit claiming that, under the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME, public-sector unions are…

  • Three mandatory bar association dues cases on SCOTUS’ April 1 conference list

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    The Supreme Court has 122 cases up for consideration during today’s conference, including three challenges to mandatory state bar association dues. Here’s a rundown of each of those cases. To follow along, keep an eye out for the order list to be posted here on Monday.  Taylor v. Heath In this case, Michigan attorney Lucille…

  • AFT and AAUP meet with Colorado gov. about proposed union bill

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    American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Randi Weingarten and American Association of University Professors (AAUP) president Irene Mulvey met with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) on March 21 about a proposed bill that would expand public-sector collective bargaining in Colorado.  Background  The bill, which has not been introduced, would expand public-sector collective bargaining in Colorado…

  • Indiana gov. signs bill amending partially blocked teachers union dues law

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    Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed Senate Bill 297 on March 7, amending a partially-blocked teachers union dues law.  The backstory Holcomb signed Republican-sponsored Senate Bill 251 on April 22, 2021, enacting a law that says, “A school employee has the right to resign from, and end any financial obligation to, a school employee organization…