Missouri Educators Win in Landmark Supreme Court Case

The ruling reverses a 1947 decision, Springfield vs. Clouse, whereby the Court ruled that the constitutional language did not apply to public employees, including teachers.  AFT Missouri filed an amicus brief in support of MNEA's original lawsuit against the Independence School District. AFT Missouri's legal counsel, Wickham and Wood, LLC, filed the amicus brief to support MNEA's position that all employees in Missouri have the right to collective bargaining.  An amicus brief is, "a legal opinion filed by a non-party who asserts they nevertheless have an interest in the outcome of the case," explained Fred Wickham. 

This decision will have a huge impact on AFT Missouri's members.  Now educators will have a stronger voice in deciding their working conditions, which ultimately are the learning conditions of our children.  According to AFT Missouri President, Scott Ciafullo, "This is a huge victory for the entire AFT Missouri family as well as all educators in the state.  I'm excited to see what this era of collective bargaining brings to our education system."