SEATTLE – Public employee union members in Washington state will be closely watching the U.S. Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME on Monday.

Greg Devereux, executive director of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), says if justices side with Illinois worker Mark Janus, it would undermine a 40-year-old court decision – and labor unions in general.

Janus is challenging a 1977 case that created a two-tier system for union membership, with full members and non-members who pay what are known as "fair-share" fees for representation and collective bargaining.

Devereux says if Janus wins, public unions could work on behalf of people who aren't paying for that representation.

"Even the ACLU has filed an amicus brief against this, saying in effect, it's reverse compelled association,” says Devereux, “because now, members will be paying for non-members, under this scheme."

Supporters of Janus say he shouldn't have to pay fair-share fees on First Amendment grounds.

This Saturday, unions across the country will hold what they're calling a "Working People's Day of Action." WFSE, which is part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) also are planning an event on Monday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Revenue to public employee unions could be take a hit if the courts rule against AFSCME. In 28 so-called "right to work" states, people who are covered under public-employee contracts don't have to pay the fair-share fee for representation.

This case would in essence extend that policy to public employees in the other 22 states – including Washington – which collectively represent about five million workers. Supporters of Janus have equated collective bargaining with lobbying, but Devereux insists that is a false comparison.

"In terms of safety, working on workload, determining health care benefits for individuals,” he says, “there are a tremendous number of issues in our union contracts that make a huge difference in people's lives at the workplace."

In a similar 2016 case, justices ended in a 4-to-4 deadlock over the fate of fair-share fees.


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Massachusetts unions and worker-owned cooperatives are joining forces to help tackle the state's historic wealth gap.

Census data show just a handful of households now have average incomes nearly 14 times larger than the bottom 20%.

Kevin O'Brien is a worker-owner with the unionized Worx Printing Cooperative in Worcester. He said workers increasingly want a say in workplace conditions, greater job security, and a piece of the profits.

"The more they know and understand about cooperative ownership," said O'Brien, "I think the sky is kind of the limit on what they'll be able to do, to combat this wealth gap."

O'Brien said there's great potential for more worker-owned co-ops, due to the impending "silver tsunami" of retiring small business owners - who will need to sell or transfer their assets.

He said the co-op model is already in place for businesses to replicate, while unions can help provide the resources co-ops need - including access to capital.

The number of worker-owned cooperatives in Massachusetts has tripled over the past decade.

About 40% of these co-ops have a majority of worker-owners of color, who may lack other means to build generational wealth.

Soren Rose is a worker-owner at Circus Cooperative Café in Cambridge.

He said he's proud to be part of a wider movement toward worker empowerment and café unionization, including the recently formed Blue Bottle Independent Union.

"We have so much in common with the struggles of our union comrades," said Rose, "and we like to share resources, and make sure that we're all joining in a broader fight for good working and living conditions, in the Boston area and Northeast as well."

Rose said some café customers come for the coffee - others to support the co-op model, too.

State lawmakers have created a new state agency to develop that model further and a nearly $8-million technical assistance fund of small grants to help.




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When the calendar flips to January, a number of states will increase their minimum wage levels - but just like recent years, North Dakota won't be among them. Those pushing for changes plan to try again.

North Dakota's minimum wage hasn't gone up in 15 years, standing firm at $7.25 an hour - also the federal level.

Meanwhile, many other states in this part of the country have gradually boosted theirs above $10.

State Rep. LaurieBeth Hager - D-Fargo - said she made this a big priority while serving in North Dakota's Legislature.

She echoed what some in the research community have noted, about giving low-income populations the power to lift themselves out of poverty.

"If people are making more, and have more buying potential, more earning potential," said Hager, "their whole life and their whole dreams can be entirely different."

And while researchers say these moves might not lead to big job losses, there are lingering concerns about employers turning to automation.

Hager said she doesn't have a firm number for a forthcoming bill this session, but she said she plans to keep it around $9 to make it easier for small businesses to absorb.

Republicans still control both chambers, and Hager said she plans to seek approval in placing the issue before voters - as opposed to a simple Legislative vote like last session.

Citizen-led ballot questions also are options and have worked in other conservative-led states - but Hager said that can be a thorny issue in North Dakota, even if voters say yes.

Meanwhile, Landis Larson - president of the North Dakota AFL-CIO - said skeptics might argue about costs being passed along to consumers or other drawbacks.

But he added that not making adjustments for low-wage earners can be felt in other ways.

"You know, if you look at it another way," said Larson, "most of those people are on some kind of government programs that actually everyone pays for in the long run."

A 2021 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that millions of American adults earning low wages rely on federal programs, like Medicaid, to meet basic needs.

Nationwide, more than 20 states and nearly 40 cities will increase their minimum wage rates when the new year begins.




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Many households across Arkansas are just above the federal poverty line, but earn less than they need to cover their basic needs.

These people, like Aida Borrero of Little Rock, are known to be a part of an ALICE household.

ALICE stands for asset limited, income constrained, employed - and describes the unique socio-economic status of workers and households.

Earlier this year, Borrero got treatment for colon cancer. She said because of that, and the rising cost of goods, her family has struggled to get by.

Borrero said they were living off her husband's salary while she recuperated. That was before he was diagnosed with the same cancer.

"My husband is limited to the work he can do," said Borrero. "He's currently working two days out of the week due to his various medical conditions, and I'm not currently working because of my own health conditions. What I get from Social Security isn't a lot. I can help, but it really isn't sufficient."

Between 2021 and 2022, the 'ALICE household survival budget' for a single adult in Arkansas increased from almost $24,000 to approximately $25,000 a year.

That is well above the federal poverty line of about $13,500 a year. Advocates want change.

In 2023, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed legislation to extend family tax credits to offer more assistance to ALICE families.

Borrero, who is Latina, said other communities of color also endure higher financial hardships.

In 2022, 51% of Hispanic households were below the ALICE threshold - compared to 43% of White and 33% of Asian households, according to United For ALICE.

The grassroots organization says systemic racism, discrimination, and geographic barriers can limit a family's financial stability.

Borrero said she wants policy makers to know households like hers have to make tough choices with risky trade offs.

"The economy is inflated," said Borrero. "One buys food at the grocery store, and many don't buy the healthy foods they want because they can't afford to buy healthy - because it is too expensive."

Like in all states, the cost of living varies across Arkansas.

ALICE budgets are determined at the county level. These budgets include housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology and taxes.


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