Orth v. Wisconsin State Employees Union, Council 24

**What Happened** This case involved retired Wisconsin state employees, the Orths, who discovered their union was incorrectly deducting money from their sick leave accounts to pay for health insurance. When they retired, the union took 100% of their health insurance premiums from their accumulated sick leave benefits. However, their collective bargaining agreement (their union contract) clearly stated that only 10% should be deducted for health insurance costs. **What the Court Decided** The federal appeals court ruled in favor of the retired employees. The court found that the Wisconsin State Employees Union had violated the collective bargaining agreement by taking far more money than allowed. The union was ordered to pay the difference and cover the employees' legal costs. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling reinforces that employers and unions must follow the exact terms written in collective bargaining agreements. When contracts specify particular deduction amounts or benefit calculations, those terms cannot be changed without proper agreement. Workers have the right to challenge violations of their contracts in court, and if they win, they may be able to recover attorney fees. This case shows that even small details in union contracts have legal force and must be honored.