Science and Politics in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. Issue 2 (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Superfine, Benjamin Michael; Umpstead, Regina R.; Mayrowetz, David; Lenhoff, Sarah Winchell; Pogodzinski, Ben
• Other Names: Ingle W. Kyle guest-editor.; Pogodzinski Ben guest-editor.; George Casey E. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Educational policy. Volume 32:Issue 2(2018:Mar.)
• Page Start: 211
• Page End: 233
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: collective bargaining -- unions -- labor relations -- education law -- legal analysis; Education and state -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Periodicals; 379.2
• DOI: 10.1177/0895904817741545
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-9048

Abstract

In March 2017, the Supreme Court decided Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association and upheld the constitutionality of agency fees for nonunion teachers. We examine how Friedrichs reflects a host of issues grouped around a patchwork of ideological commitments regarding teachers unions and public-sector unions more generally, partisan politics, and empirically oriented claims about the impact of teachers unions on students' educational opportunities. We particularly argue that the case reflects a tension between judicial, scientific, and democratic decision-making, and that courts and reformers should be sensitive to this tension as they consider similar cases moving forward.