Ellis v. Brotherhood of Railway Clerks

466 U.S. 435 (1984)

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Ellis v. Brotherhood of Railway Clerks

United States Supreme Court
466 U.S. 435 (1984)

  • Written by Tammy Boggs, JD

Facts

The Brotherhood of Railway Clerks (the union) represented clerical employees at Western Airlines. Western Airlines was a union shop. Employees who did not want to join the union were still compelled to pay agency fees in an amount equivalent to full union dues. Some employees (the objecting employees) objected to paying more than their pro rata share of the union’s expenses incurred in negotiating agreements and settling grievances with Western Airlines. The union would charge the objecting employees full union dues and then rebate any portion subsequently found to be illegal. The Supreme Court was called on to decide the propriety of the union’s charges.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (White, J.)

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