A tie vote from the U.S. Supreme Court today means public sector unions in about half the states can continue collecting fees from workers who choose not to join.
The justices divided 4-4 in a case that considered whether public employees represented by a union can be required to pay "fair share" fees covering collective bargaining costs even if they are not members.
Robert Alt of The Buckeye Institute a conservative think-tank says today's ruling was a non-decision.
"Essentially did today was to affirm the lower court's decision in this case because they couldn't reach an opinion themselves. So in light of that the lower court decision stands. In that case it was a decision in favor of the unions based upon an old precedent from the Supreme Court," Alt said.
Alt says because the decision was split, the issue will likely be brought back to the Supreme Court at a later date.
Listen to Marilyn Smith's conversation with President of the conservative thing tank Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions.
