Alaska Supreme Court rejects Dunleavy administration’s plan to change union-dues rules

JUNEAU — The Alaska Supreme Court rejected the Dunleavy administration’s plans to overhaul public sector union membership rules in a unanimous decision issued Friday.

The court’s 24-page opinion said the administration’s interpretation of a landmark 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that limited collection of union dues was incorrect, and that the state’s current procedures do not violate members’ First Amendment rights.

“We are thrilled. We are unsurprised,” said Heidi Drygas, executive director of the Alaska State Employees Association, in an interview about Friday’s decision. “We felt really strongly about our case, and the Supreme Court basically confirmed that — with quite a walloping.”