Posts tagged Arizona Constitution

    Research

    Teachers’ Unions Are Losing One of Their Government Perks

    July 22, 2026 // The question is not whether teachers unions should exist, but whether taxpayers should subsidize organizations that subsequently seek more taxpayer subsidy, often for actions the taxpayer wouldn’t otherwise support. Removing public subsidies forces unions to rely on voluntary member support, increases accountability, and keeps government resources focused on their proper purpose: educating children. The reforms in Idaho, Florida, and Arizona mark the beginning of a necessary correction.

    AFT Arizona Arizona Constitution Becky Pringle Brad Little collecting dues collective bargaining Democratic National Committee education fiduciary responsibility First Amendment rights Florida Franklin D. Roosevelt HCR 2040 House Bill 516a Idaho Katie Hobbs National Federation of Federal Employees NEA Neutrality paid leave participation thresholds payroll deduction political advocacy Randi Weingarten Ron DeSantis Senate Bill 1296 subsidies taxpayer teachers’ unions union certification union recertification voluntary association

    Press Release ● Unions

    AZ Supreme Court Strikes Down Union ‘Release Time’ on Taxpayers’ Dime

    July 31, 2024 // In this case, the city signed a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, with a local unit of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees union. Under that MOU, the city gave the union several release time benefits, including four full-time release positions. In other words, the city paid four employees to work exclusively for the union on the taxpayers’ dime. The MOU said the cost of release time counted as part of the “total compensation” paid to all unit employees, whether members of the labor union or not. But that raised a problem: if release time was being paid as part of their “total compensation,” then it violates the free expression and association rights of these employees to force them to give up their compensation to fund the political speech of union representatives with whom these employees disagree. That was just what the U.S. Supreme Court said in the 2018 landmark Janus ruling.

    AFSCME Arizona Arizona Constitution Arizona Supreme Court Gift Clause government workers Janus lobbying activities memorandum of understanding Phoenix political activities public sector unions release time Supreme Court Texas Supreme Court unions