Court Case a Big Win for Public Employees

I want to let you know that late last week, the Alaska Supreme Court issued a big win to ASEA. In its decision, it upheld previous court decisions and further clarified that the Dunleavy Administration had acted with hostility toward ASEA in its unlawful attempt to administer union membership.

• You can read the Court’s full opinion by clicking here.
• And our Press Release by clicking here.

As summarized in the Court’s opinion, the Administration “acted with an anti-union motive and discriminated with regard to a term of employment in a manner discouraging union membership among state employees in violation of AS 23.40.110(a)(3).”

I can’t emphasize enough how important this opinion is for all public employees in Alaska. In 2019, the Dunleavy Administration made a unilateral decision to administer the ASEA membership under a set of rules it justified through a unique and unsupported interpretation of the U.S Supreme Court’s 2018 Janus case. ASEA rejected the Administration’s logic and disputed the benefit to union members because it clearly served the employer’s interest to manage the membership roll.

The Alaska Supreme Court agreed with us, and I congratulate all of you for this victory. But let’s be clear, some people feel your union membership is a right worth taking away—whether through legislation that obstructs collective bargaining or bureaucratic sleights-of-hand that diminish your bargaining power.

Thank you for being a union member at this moment. It is an honor to serve as your Executive Director and I am always excited for a labor win. I hope the Governor will agree to put this matter behind us so we can focus on the mission of service to Alaskans. 

I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming meeting or union event. Thanks for all you do for Alaskans, every day.

In Solidarity,

Heidi Drygas
Executive Director
ASEA/AFSCME Local 52