Cone v. Nevada Service Employees Union/SEIU Local 1107

**What Happened** Patricia Cone, a non-union worker at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, challenged her union's policy of charging fees to non-members for individual grievance representation. Cone claimed this practice violated her rights and amounted to discrimination and retaliation against workers who chose not to join the union. **Court Decision** The Nevada Supreme Court ruled against Cone, upholding the union's right to charge service fees to non-union members when they request individual help with workplace grievances. The court found that this fee structure did not violate Nevada's labor laws or right-to-work statutes, which protect workers' freedom to choose whether to join a union. **What This Means for Workers** This ruling clarifies that even in right-to-work states like Nevada, unions can charge non-members for specific services like grievance representation. While workers have the right to decline union membership, they may still need to pay fees if they want the union's help with individual workplace disputes. Workers should understand that choosing not to join a union doesn't automatically entitle them to free union services when problems arise.