Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) released the following statement condemning the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31:
“Unions are the backbone of the middle class in America, and sadly, today’s decision is a slap in the face to millions of middle class families. For decades, unions have ensured that workers, empowered by the right to organize, secured hard-fought victories to improve life for their families. This court case was led by anti-worker billionaires with one mission - to destroy unions so that corporations can get out of paying their workers fair wages and benefits,” said Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva. “This ruling is a direct assault on teachers, firefighters and police officers at a time when the majority of the American public stands firmly behind striking teachers fighting for the very thing unions support – fair wages, benefits, and adequate leave policies. Democrats will not stand idly by while conservatives, through a stolen Supreme Court seat, attack the rights of the middle class in this country. I continue to stand with unions, protect their rights to organize, and fight for policies that create strong pathways of upward mobility that strengthen working families for generations to come.”
“The Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME will have far-reaching effects for millions of American workers. The fact is that when unions are strong, workers have better wages, better working conditions, and ultimately, better lives. However, when unions are under attack and weakened by corporate and special interests, workers suffer. Today, President Trump and the GOP’s donors won the latest battle in stripping protections for workers and further rigging the system in favor of millionaires and billionaires,” said Rep. Mark Pocan. “Earlier this year, I introduced the Workplace Democracy Act, legislation that restores real bargaining rights to workers and repeals the right to work laws like those that Governor Walker has used to undercut American workers. We must stand up for the millions of middle class families who are under attack by Republican leaders and rulings like the one delivered today by the Supreme Court.”
“As a 30-year union member and a lifelong resident of Wisconsin, I have witnessed first-hand the positive effects that unions can have on people’s lives, as well as the destructive results when politicians, like Wisconsin’s own Scott Walker, attack worker’s rights,” Rep. Pocan continued. “Despite today’s Supreme Court ruling, I’m committed to fighting for public employees and ensuring that unions can continue to make a difference in working peoples’ lives.
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest caucus within the House Democratic Caucus, with over 70 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and promote civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, a $15 national minimum wage, fair trade, gun violence reform, debt-free college, and making the federal government a Model Employer.
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