State teachers union settles campaign money case

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Story Published: Dec 3, 2008 at 5:19 PM PDT

By Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington state's largest teachers union and Attorney General Rob McKenna have settled a lawsuit over union fees and political spending.

The case stems from charges filed in 2000. The Washington Education Association was accused of violating a state law that said workers must "opt in," before a union can spend some of their money on political causes.

The union challenged the law, and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it. But the law was changed by the Legislature.

Under the settlement announced Wednesday, the union will pay the state $735,000 to end the lawsuit. The WEA will also refund $240,000 to workers who didn't want their union fees used on politics.

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