High Court May Rule On Use of State Funds
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court justices questioned yesterday whether a state should be able to prohibit employers from using state money to influence employees’ views on unions in their workplace. The Chamber of Commerce and the Bush administration argue that California is trying to silence employers from weighing in on union organization efforts. They say that position isn’t permitted by federal labor law, which allows employers to be involved as long as they don’t threaten reprisals.
The outcome of the case could affect attempts by other states to restrict use of state money for union-related activities.
California contends that its 2000 law, the first of its kind nationally, simply seeks to ensure that the state doesn’t subsidize an employer’s pro- or anti-union activities, allowing California to maintain a neutral position in labor disputes.
