A growing number of states are following Alaska’s lead in enforcing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 Janus decision. Michigan is the latest state to do so. Thanks to the Michigan Civil Service Commission, some public employers must now obtain direct consent from their employees before withholding any union dues from employee paychecks. In addition, the consent will need to be renewed annually, and employees can decide to opt-out at any time during the year.
“The Michigan Civil Service Commission should be applauded for defending the free speech of state employees by adding language to their rules that would fully implement the Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME,” said F. Vincent Vernuccio, senior fellow for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. “The change ensures that the Civil Service Commission’s regulations and processes are protecting the constitutional rights of state employees as outlined in Janus.”
This announcement upholds Michigan state employees’ First Amendment rights and follows in the steps of Alaska, Texas, and Indiana. Although this rule change only applies to state employees that work under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Civil Service Commission, it will protect the constitutional rights of up to 50,000 public workers. Alaska Policy Forum encourages the state of Michigan to enforce the Janus v. AFSCME decision for all state employees.