including PBAs, whether those unions collect agency fees
from non-members or not. If the Supreme Court reverses the
Abood decision, public-sector unions will not be able to col-
lect agency fees from non-members. In New Jersey, as in other
states, the laws that permit the collection of agency fees will
no longer be valid. But PBAs will still be required to provide
representation to non-members who will be covered by con-
tracts negotiated with the help of your dues.
Fortunately, strong organizations like the NJ State PBA offer
programs, such as the Legal Protection Plan, to encourage law
enforcement officers to become, and remain, members. Many
PBA Locals also offer benefits available only to members. As
a result, most PBA Locals do not have non-members who pay
agency fees. But, experience has shown that there can be a
significant impact on membership in states where the right
to collect agency fees has been abolished by state law. In our
April 2016 article, we pointed to Wisconsin as one example.
While we do not expect the same impact for NJ PBAs, a Su-
preme Court decision reversing the Abood decision will likely
have some impact on membership rolls. This only reinforces
the importance of participating with the NJ State PBA in its
PAC fund and in joining with the State PBA in making your
voices heard in Trenton and Washington. In this way, the State
PBA, working with you and your PBA Locals, can minimize
any impact the Court’s decision in the Janus case will have if it
reverses the Abood decision. d
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