Rebecca Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association Amicus Brief

In California and 22 other states, public school teachers are legally required to pay agency fees to their local union, even if they don’t wish to join as a member. This doesn’t sit well with long-time California teacher Rebecca Friedrichs and nine other teachers, who are fundamentally opposed to some of the positions advocated by the California Teachers Association during collective bargaining. The Friedman Foundation has filed an amicus brief supporting Friedrichs and those who stand with her.

By requiring public school teachers who are not union members to financially support the union’s often highly controversial and political lobbying, issue campaign advocacy, and collective bargaining activities, the law restricts these educators’ First Amendment right to associate freely and ultimately advocate on behalf of their students and their communities. Voices of classroom teachers can be obscured by the political power of an expansive union, and this is detrimental to all who value the independent perspectives and experience of classroom teachers. You can learn more about the history of the case here and read our amicus brief below to get our perspective on this important case.