Can a teacher in a government school be required to pay political dues to a teachers union--even if she is not a member of that union? The law in Washington state says yes, but this week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that may change that requirement.

At stake is a law, passed in a popular vote, that requires unions to get the agreement (opt-in) of teachers before taking their money for political purposes.

A party to the suit is the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) which has long campaigned to inform teachers of their rights to be free of union ties.

EFF president Bob Williams provided a short review of the question in an op-ed published by the Detroit News. Williams last year. " U.S. Supreme Court case law lays out First Amendment protections to ensure employees are not forced to support political activity against their will."

As Williams point out, the issue is one of free speech. Oddly enough, Washington state's highest court ruled that an op-in requirement for political contributions was impermissible, because it would violate the free speech rights of the union.

Some press accounts suggest that the Court will side with the dissident teachers, though impressions gleaned from oral arguments are only fallible guides to the final ruling.

See web site teachers versus union for updates.