This week, Louis and John focus on campaigns that conservative political groups are launching to try to persuade teachers and hourly school workers to drop out of their unions as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month in Janus v. AFSCME. In that case, the court ruled that public employees no longer have to pay union fees covering the cost of representation. Louis and John interview Will Swaim, president of the California Policy Center, a conservative nonprofit reaching out to teachers, and Joshua Pechthalt, president of the California Federation of Teachers. They also briefly discuss the breaking news of the week: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ approval of California’s plan for the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, following a year of protracted negotiations.
For background:
Battle ramps up to convince California school employees to withhold union fees
High court ends mandatory fees collected by public unions
How teacher strikes in other states help California unions make their case
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos signs off: California’s plan finally satisfies federal law