Can a union force non-members to pay dues? SCOTUS is about to weigh in.

On Monday, oral arguments will begin for a high-stakes Supreme Court case concerning union dues. The question specifically pertains to public sector unions — in this case, the California Teachers Association (CTA) — and whether it can mandate dues payment by non-member employees.

The plaintiff, a third grade teacher from Anaheim named Rebecca Friedrichs, argues that compulsory dues infringe on her First Amendment rights by forcing her to participate in political activity she does not support. (The CTA donates millions to political candidates and causes, overwhelmingly favoring Democrats.)

"My union has become what it used to fight," Friedrichs said. "It is powerful, it is entrenched, and it is not listening to its members."

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If SCOTUS rules in Friedrichs' favor, it will overturn Abood v. Detroit Board of Education (1977), which held that public school teachers could be forced to pay unions, and affect public sector unions in about 25 states.