Who Might be Affected Most by the Supreme Court's Collective Bargaining Decision

As the Supreme Court’s 2017-18 term came to an end, the justices saved what may have be one of their most contentious decisions for last: Whether Mark Janus, a child support specialist from Illinois, must pay fees to the local labor union that covers him under its collective bargaining agreement. On Wednesday, the conservative-majority court delivered a 5-4 affirmative decision in the case, called Janus vs. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. If Janus chooses not to join his public-sector union, the majority held, he can’t be required to pay union fees.

Labor organizers fear unions—and the workers they represent—will be crippled by the call. Among those most likely to be affected are women and people of color, who are overrepresented in state and local union membership. Out of all public sector workers, black women make up the highest share, at 18 percent of the workforce, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).