Janus case update: Justice Sotomayor questions motives of our opponents
The United States Supreme Court today (Feb. 26) heard oral arguments in the Janus case - the case you've heard so much about that aims to weaken public employees' voice at work and at the bargaining table.
US Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor at today's hearing on the Janus case:
"You're basically arguing, do away with unions," she asked the attorney for the forces trying to take away our voice to win better wages, hours, working conditions and preserve the safety net.
More excerpts from the post-hearing story on the Janus oral arguments:
"The Supreme Court heard fiery arguments Monday in a case that could remove a key revenue stream for public-sector unions.
"A sharply divided court could be poised to overturn a 40-year-old Supreme Court decision that would further undermine an already shrinking union movement....
"When a decision is reached, expected in June, all eyes will be on Trump-appointed justice, Neil Gorsuch, who was uncharacteristically quiet in Monday's proceedings. He asked no questions and will likely be the deciding vote, given that the other justices split 4-to-4 in a similar case last year. The case last year was decided just after the death of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and the balance didn't seem to change Monday.
"'You're basically arguing, do away with unions,' Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued at one point in questioning the attorney for the National Right to Work Legal Foundation, William Messenger."
See the full story: https://www.npr.org/2018/02/01/582539884/supreme-court-could-bleed-unions-dry
Join statement on US Supreme Court Janus case from Gov. Inslee and Attorney General Ferguson
As the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in the Janus v. AFSCME case, Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued the following joint statement:
"Today the United States Supreme Court is hearing oral argument in the Janus v. AFSCME decision. Janus is the newest attempt to undermine and destroy public sector unions. That’s why Washington state recently joined an amicus brief arguing that our states benefit when we have strong unions and our workers are not striking.
"The court settled these issues 40 years ago with a unanimous decision that anti-union interests are now seeking to overturn. If Janus succeeds, it will be a win for powerful special interests and another setback for the struggling American middle class. Regardless of any Supreme Court decision, we stand in solidarity with worker organizations and their fight to keep good jobs in our communities."
JANUS V AFSCME on AFSCME.org/now
Meanwhile, Day of Action events send strong message about our "righteous" cause
Today at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Western State Hospital in Lakewood and Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, members of the Federation and other public employee unions stand up for our freedoms now under attack in the Janus case that went before the United States Supreme Court today (Feb. 26).
NPR said a decision is expected in June, but it could be as early as March, according to some observers.
Today's Day of Action events follow AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE)'s successful Day of Action event at Seatac sponsored by hundreds of members of our 10 Policy Committees. The social media posts from those events included the No. 1 Day of Action Facebook post anywhere in AFSCME.
"We have the righteous fight," Federation President Sue Henricksen told the Day of Action attendees who then gathered with signs, banners and flags to say why they were 100% Union Proud and sticking with their union no matter what the Supreme Court says.
CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW ALL PHOTOS FROM WORKING PEOPLE'S DAY
