Michael Slabinski in Washington Examiner
In his latest piece, Michael Slabinski, Director of the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force, explains how a recent legal opinion from Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson could impact states nationwide.
Clarkson’s legal opinion details how Alaska’s current paycheck processing system is not set up to meet the full Janus standard.
According to Clarkson, the Alaska state government must stop actively deducting dues from paychecks. For the government to legally deduct dues, it needs to obtain “clear and compelling evidence” that workers affirmatively consent to having money taken out of their paychecks to pay a union. At this time, Clarkson explains, the state has failed to provide evidence that workers are aware of their Janus rights.
This interpretation of Janus could force all states — not just Alaska and other non-right-to-work states — to reexamine their process for recognizing affirmative consent from public employees.