Statement from Policy Matters Ohio: Supreme Court Sides with
Special Interests over Working People
Janus decision further weakens collective bargaining
[Last
week], the U.S. Supreme Court made it more difficult for
17.3 million
working people to join together to seek safer working
conditions, fair pay, and family-sustaining benefits. The
court has undercut long-standing law in 22 states, including
Ohio, that requires state and local government employees who
benefit from a union but opt out of membership to pay a fee
that covers the costs associated with contract
administration and grievance protection. Making these
payments optional means that workers can receive the
benefits from a union contract without having to pay for
them.
“This
decision will drain funds away from unions, making it more
difficult for workers to secure a fair deal through
collective bargaining,” said Hannah Halbert, project
director with Policy Matters Ohio. “Unions will continue to
represent all members, but free-riders will not contribute,
to the long-term detriment of all workers.”
“Judicial
attacks like Janus and so-called “Right-to-Work”
legislation do nothing to address the real struggles of
working people,” said Halbert. “When unions are weak,
working people get a smaller share of the growth they help
create. When unions are strong, middle incomes grow. Black,
white, male and female workers all earn more when they are
in a union, and the gap between races and sexes shrinks when
wages are collectively bargained. Unions help balance the
overwhelming power of employers in our political and
economic system. Today’s decision is a sure step in the
wrong direction.”
Nationally, 58.3 percent of state and local government
workers affected by the Supreme Court decision are women,
and nearly a third are workers of color. Nearly 47 percent
of Ohio’s state and local government employees have joined
together in a union.
“Many teachers, mostly in states that are unfriendly to
unions, walked off the job this spring demanding better
compensation and better education conditions for their
students. Today’s decision will drain resources from worker
bargaining, but as the teacher strikes around the country
demonstrate, it will not dampen workers’ resolve to get a
fair deal,” said Halbert. “Workers will continue to create
new ways to build strength despite a climate that is hostile
to unions.” |