Lead plaintiff, Rebecca Friedrichs, along with nine other California teachers have taken issue with the 1977 Abod v. Detroit Board of Education decision that allows unions to collect “fair-share” dues for collective bargaining and other costs from those who refuse to join.

Says Friedrichs, “The unions have core values that are in direct opposition to my core values. They’re using those fees to support their core values and their agenda.” And she’s not alone in taking such a stand. Ask anyone who reluctantly joins a union or chooses not to but pays these fees. Doing so provides them many union protections but excludes from such activities as participating in union elections or meetings or vote in collective bargaining ratification elections.

And so a lot is hinging on the Court’s decision. A win for Friedrichs, et al, explains Education Week‘s Mark Walsh, could impact “the future of public-sector unions.” Moreover, he adds, “The challengers are asking for a ruling that would take down the collective bargaining laws of 23 states, all of which rely on fair-share fees.”

Stay tuned. The case will be heard before the Supreme Court on this very day, January 11, 2016.