Machinist Unions Win Appeal in Wisconsin Fair-Share Fees Case

Three Machinists union affiliates may continue to deduct “fair-share” fees from nonmember employees at a Wisconsin sheet-metal manufacturer, despite the state’s “right-to-work” law banning the practice, the Seventh Circuit said.

Wisconsin’s statutory ban on fair-share fee provisions doesn’t apply, because the unions’ collective bargaining agreement was formed before the law took effect, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held Monday.

The unions, which represent employees at Maysteel Industries, ratified a new CBA on Feb. 28, 2015. The CBA contained a provision requiring Maysteel employees to join the union and pay dues or, if not, allow the union ...