The U.S. Supreme Court case Ellis et al. v. Brotherhood of Railway, Airline & Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express & Station Employees et al., 1983 revolved around the issue of union dues and how they were used by unions for political purposes against the wishes of some members who disagreed with those politics. The plaintiffs argued that their First Amendment rights were violated when a portion of their compulsory union fees was used to support political causes they did not agree with. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs stating that while unions could collect fees from non-union members for collective bargaining activities (which benefits all employees), it was unconstitutional to use these funds for other activities such as political lobbying without explicit consent from individuals paying those dues.

In the dissenting opinion for Ellis et al. v. Brotherhood of Railway, Airline & Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express & Station Employees et al., Justice Blackmun argued that the majority's decision was inconsistent with previous rulings and unnecessarily interfered with union activities. He contended that unions should be allowed to use agency shop fees for political purposes as long as they are related to collective bargaining or contract administration. Furthermore, he disagreed with the majority's view on litigation expenses and believed that all members benefit from a successful lawsuit regardless of whether it directly pertains to their specific job duties or not. Finally, he criticized the majority’s requirement for an advance reduction in dues rather than a rebate system which would place an undue burden on unions' financial management.