Last updated on July 2, 2018
Boston City Paper, June 30, 2018
MA LABOR RESPONDS TO JANUS vs. AFSCME SUPREME COURT RULING Citing a Wave of Victories in Mass and Across the Commonwealth, Working People Reject Efforts by Wealthy Special Interests to Curb their Rights Firefighters, Teachers, Leaders of MA AFL-CIO, AFSCME, MTA, AFT, SEIU Vow to Keep Organizing and Winning.
Boston, MA –The Supreme Court issued an opinion in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 to restrict the freedom of teachers, firefighters, nurses and others who work in public service to join together in a union. The case, funded by billionaires and organizations that have led anti-union efforts across the country, was widely seen as an attempt to prevent working people from joining together in unions, raise wages and improve benefits.
Union members and leaders came together after the decision was issued and pledged to redouble their efforts on behalf of working people.
“Today’s misguided Supreme Court decision may have been intended to put another roadblock in the way of working people who are standing up for good jobs and their families’ futures. But what it doesn’t change is the simple fact that working people in Massachusetts are winning,” said Steve Tolman, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
Leaders pointed to recent victories for union and non-union workers, including increasing the minimum wage, winning earned sick time, and passing a domestic workers’ bill of rights.
They also noted that in every major industry across the state, workers are voting to join unions, including at Harvard University, Marlboro Hospital, Jetblue, and City on a Hill Charter School.
“Today, the Supreme Court came down on the wrong side of history in a case that the rich and powerful are hoping will divide us. But no court case is going to stop us from fighting for the strong unions our communities need. By joining together in unions, working people have the strength to raise wages, secure basic needs like healthcare coverage, improve jobs and make life better for entire communities,” said Peter MacKinnon, President of SEIU Local 509.
Leaders highlighted that the number of workers organizing and voting to join unions is increasing, including for instance that 95% of Boston Teachers Union members have already signed cards commiting to stick with the union.
“The billionaires behind this court decision aim to divide us, but we won’t let them. In fact, 95% of BTU members have already signed cards committing to stick with the union,” said Marilyn Marion, a retired public school teacher and proud member of the Boston Teachers Union.
Working people are rising up in Massachusetts and across the country to protect the freedom to join unions for a better life, noting that last year, union workers in the Bay State earned about 20% more than their non-union colleagues.
“Members of the AFT Massachusetts enjoy the strength and solidarity that comes with union membership, and we expect that our membership will continue to grow despite the Janus decision,” said Beth Kontos, President of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts. “We will continue to advocate strongly for full funding and equal access for our public educational institutions as we serve our communities in libraries, hospitals, and schools, from pre-K through higher ed.”
From the historic teacher strikes sweeping the country to the hundreds of thousands of workers forming unions, leaders noted that people are joining together to win the rights that come with having a union.
That means fighting for policies that benefit everyone – like increases to the minimum wage, better healthcare, access to training and equipment for nurses and first responders and great public schools.
“History teaches us that working people will not be denied and will continue to organize, unionize and build power. Belonging to a union is the best way to guarantee we have power to stand up for ourselves, our students and our communities. We are not going to stop fighting for our values, regardless of what the Supreme Court rules,” said Barbara Madeloni, Massachusetts Teachers Association President.
Leaders said momentum is on the side of working families, highlighting:
Across the Commonwealth, thousands of workers have recently voted to join unions in every major industry, including at:
- Harvard University
- Marlboro Hospital
- Jetblue
- City on a Hill Charter Schools
- Tufts University
Working men and women have joined together to win major legislative victories and increased earnings for Bay State families, including:
- Increasing the minimum wage
- Winning earned sick time
- Passing a domestic workers’ Bill of Rights
- Last year, Bay State union workers earned about 20% more than than their non-union colleagues
