On June 27, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued their 5-4 decision in the case Janus v. AFSCME, ruling that non-member government employees' First Amendment rights shield them from having to pay so-called "fair-share fees" to a union to cover the costs of representing them. Consequently, BU 18 employees are either a CAPT member or a non-member. Just because you’re a Bargaining Unit 18 member doesn’t mean you’re automatically a full CAPT member.

Rights of CAPT members vs. non-members

All state-employed CAPT members and non-members have the following rights:

(1) The right to representation in grievances and complaints under the Psychiatric Technician Bargaining Unit 18 contract. This includes representation in investigatory interviews.

(2) The right to vote on ratification of the contract between CAPT and the State and the right to vote on authorization of a strike or other concerted action.

However, CAPT members have the following rights and benefits that non-members do not have:

(1) The right to representation in adverse action appeals through the State Personnel Board (SPB) level.

(2) the right to representation in appeals of actions against the individual's Psychiatric Technician license or Certified Nurse Assistant certificate, subject to certain limitations.

(3) Automatic enrollment in our life-insurance plan: up to $5,000 in group term life insurance and up to a possible $5,000 in accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, now with no age limit.

(4) The right to enroll in optional CAPT-sponsored benefit programs:

• Supplemental medical/dental coverage
• Supplemental life insurance
• Supplemental AD&D coverage
• Automobile insurance
• Homeowners insurance
• Renters insurance
• Specialized life insurance
• Legal services
• And more.

(5) The right to representation in adverse action appeals to the courts after the SPB level (contingent upon approval of the CAPT Board of Directors).

(6) The right to hold a CAPT Chapter or statewide office.

(7) The right to vote in CAPT Chapter and statewide elections.

(8) The right to take CAPT job steward training and, if completed successfully, to serve as a job steward.

(9) The right to serve as a CAPT Annual Meeting delegate.

(10) The right to serve on CAPT committees.

Rights	BU 18 CAPT Member	BU 18 Non-member
Hold CAPT office	Yes	No
Vote for CAPT office	Yes	No
Serve on CAPT committees	Yes	No
Vote on contract ratification	Yes	Yes
Grievance representation	Yes	Yes
Adverse-action representation through SPB	Yes	No
Possible court appeal of adverse action	Yes	No
Appeal regarding PT license or CNA certification	Yes	No
Training and serving as a job steward	Yes	No
CAPT life-insurance program	Yes	No
Member benefits	Yes	No
Receive Outreach magazine	Yes	Yes