FAIR Los Angeles Book Club #08 – May 31, 2023

"Standing Up to Goliath: Battling State and National Teachers' Unions for the Heart and Soul of our Kids and Country" by Rebecca Friedrichs

The FAIR LA Book Club will return in May 2023 with a discussion of Rebecca Friedrichs' 2018 book Standing Up to Goliath, where she discusses her 30-year journey as a public school teacher, which ultimately led her to the U.S. Supreme Court in Friedrichs v California Teachers Association (2016). In this monumental case—which predated Janus v AFSCME by two years—Friedrichs and her fellow plaintiffs challenged the ability of public sector unions to force non-union employees to pay dues. Because of the death of Justice Antonin Scalia about one month after the Court heard oral arguments, the ruling was split 4-4 and maintained the status quo, until the Janus decision came in 2018. In her book, Friedrichs explains her experience, as well her concerns for the current state of public education and how she created a national movement called For Kids and Country. The discussion this month will be led by FAIR Los Angeles Operations Manager, Chris Paskach.

Come join us on May 31. This book selection coincides with a FAIR LA webinar Friedrichs will present on empowering teachers and others to stand up for themselves, planned for June 14, 2023.