Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference with House Democrats and Labor Leaders on the Janus Decision
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
July 2, 2018
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC – Following a roundtable discussion today, House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and public service union leaders and members for a press conference to discuss the repercussions of the anti-worker, anti-union Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 and the importance of the labor movement’s role in lifting up all working people. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
“Thank you, Jan. Thank you, Jan Schakowsky, a warrior for working people in our country, who stands up all the time – not just sometimes, not just in the sunshine, but all the time, even in the dark days on behalf of working men and women in this country. She is joined in the Congress of the United States from Illinois by Congressman Krishnamoorthi and Congressman Schneider, who are also fighters for men and women in this country. Why? Because we are all better off when working people do better. That is our message, that is our cause, and that is going to continue to be our fight, so I want to thank them.
“For generations, workers in America have been able to access the middle class because of the right to organize and bargain collectively.
“We also have a representative from Bill Foster’s office, who himself is a fighter for workers, on behalf of Illinois workers and America’s workers.
“The right to organize and bargain collectively – not only is that important for workers but there is not a viable, successful democracy in the world that has not had a free labor movement to represent workers. The better they do, the better their countries do.
“The Supreme Court’s terrible ruling, a ruling that overturned 41 years of precedent and numerous cases in which they said no, the Abood [v. Detroit Board of Education] case, of course, was the bottom line case, but no workers, if they have to be represented by the union, ought to contribute. They don’t have to join, that’s their free speech right, but they need to contribute.
“Why? Because there is not a worker that I’ve heard of, either in the state of Maryland or the state of Illinois who said ‘oh, I don’t want to join the union, therefore I don’t want to pay raise they bargained for, I don’t want the benefits that they bargained for, and I don’t want the safe working place they bargained for.’ Of course they don’t say that. The advantages without the contribution is not fair—that’s what the Abood case stood for.
“The workers that are being adversely affected are our teachers, our first responders, those who serve our country in federal, state, and local offices. They deserve to have the strongest hand possible in negotiating salaries, benefits, and safe work places. The reason Americans support that is they believe that is fair. Because one-on-one is tough to negotiate, but when you’re together, it’s easier.
“I’m tremendously disappointed that the Supreme Court undermined the authority to do that under the guise of protecting free speech. This is the freedom not to have good wages, the freedom not to have good benefits, the freedom not to have a safe working place. [Those aren’t the] freedoms we ought to be fighting for.
“I’m invigorated, however, by the response from public sector workers and we’ve heard that around this table today – a conviction that giving up is not an option. A conviction that they’re going to stand up for the people they represent and the millions and millions and millions who have not joined up but have benefitted by the of the men and women of organized labor.
“I’ve worked with brothers and sisters of labor throughout my career, which is extensive. I know you are all committed to making sure workers in our country get a fair share. Fairness. Americans believe in fairness. That’s what this argument is all about. I want all my friends who represent literally hundreds of thousands of workers, who make a difference in our country every day, and are the ones who are making America great – I want them to know were going to be fighting with them on their side.
“Our Make It In America plan is the substance of A Better Deal when it comes to economic policy. A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, a Better Future for our working men and women. Having launched the Make it In America agenda in 2010 and now subsumed in our Better Deal agenda, it is about making sure average working men and women do well in America because if they’re doing well, everybody will do better.
“So I’m pleased to be with all of you. Over the past several months, I’ve been traveling around the country with Democratic colleagues for the Make It In America Listening Tour as well as focusing on making sure we lift people out of poverty into the middle class. I want to thank a couple of my colleagues who joined me in Wisconsin on Friday, [Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Gwen Moore].
“We’re hearing from workers and employers on the front lines of our economy and I’m glad to have the opportunity to be here with you today – all of you – to hear about the challenges facing public sector workers, particularly in the wake of the Janus ruling.
“Now, we talk about public sector. This is not just about public sector unions. This is about every group that wants to organize and bargain collectively to the benefit of their workers. That is why this fight is the fight all of us must join. I’m pleased to be here with all of you. Thank you very much for what you do.”
“Thank you, Jan. Thank you, Jan Schakowsky, a warrior for working people in our country, who stands up all the time – not just sometimes, not just in the sunshine, but all the time, even in the dark days on behalf of working men and women in this country. She is joined in the Congress of the United States from Illinois by Congressman Krishnamoorthi and Congressman Schneider, who are also fighters for men and women in this country. Why? Because we are all better off when working people do better. That is our message, that is our cause, and that is going to continue to be our fight, so I want to thank them.
“For generations, workers in America have been able to access the middle class because of the right to organize and bargain collectively.
“We also have a representative from Bill Foster’s office, who himself is a fighter for workers, on behalf of Illinois workers and America’s workers.
“The right to organize and bargain collectively – not only is that important for workers but there is not a viable, successful democracy in the world that has not had a free labor movement to represent workers. The better they do, the better their countries do.
“The Supreme Court’s terrible ruling, a ruling that overturned 41 years of precedent and numerous cases in which they said no, the Abood [v. Detroit Board of Education] case, of course, was the bottom line case, but no workers, if they have to be represented by the union, ought to contribute. They don’t have to join, that’s their free speech right, but they need to contribute.
“Why? Because there is not a worker that I’ve heard of, either in the state of Maryland or the state of Illinois who said ‘oh, I don’t want to join the union, therefore I don’t want to pay raise they bargained for, I don’t want the benefits that they bargained for, and I don’t want the safe working place they bargained for.’ Of course they don’t say that. The advantages without the contribution is not fair—that’s what the Abood case stood for.
“The workers that are being adversely affected are our teachers, our first responders, those who serve our country in federal, state, and local offices. They deserve to have the strongest hand possible in negotiating salaries, benefits, and safe work places. The reason Americans support that is they believe that is fair. Because one-on-one is tough to negotiate, but when you’re together, it’s easier.
“I’m tremendously disappointed that the Supreme Court undermined the authority to do that under the guise of protecting free speech. This is the freedom not to have good wages, the freedom not to have good benefits, the freedom not to have a safe working place. [Those aren’t the] freedoms we ought to be fighting for.
“I’m invigorated, however, by the response from public sector workers and we’ve heard that around this table today – a conviction that giving up is not an option. A conviction that they’re going to stand up for the people they represent and the millions and millions and millions who have not joined up but have benefitted by the of the men and women of organized labor.
“I’ve worked with brothers and sisters of labor throughout my career, which is extensive. I know you are all committed to making sure workers in our country get a fair share. Fairness. Americans believe in fairness. That’s what this argument is all about. I want all my friends who represent literally hundreds of thousands of workers, who make a difference in our country every day, and are the ones who are making America great – I want them to know were going to be fighting with them on their side.
“Our Make It In America plan is the substance of A Better Deal when it comes to economic policy. A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, a Better Future for our working men and women. Having launched the Make it In America agenda in 2010 and now subsumed in our Better Deal agenda, it is about making sure average working men and women do well in America because if they’re doing well, everybody will do better.
“So I’m pleased to be with all of you. Over the past several months, I’ve been traveling around the country with Democratic colleagues for the Make It In America Listening Tour as well as focusing on making sure we lift people out of poverty into the middle class. I want to thank a couple of my colleagues who joined me in Wisconsin on Friday, [Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Gwen Moore].
“We’re hearing from workers and employers on the front lines of our economy and I’m glad to have the opportunity to be here with you today – all of you – to hear about the challenges facing public sector workers, particularly in the wake of the Janus ruling.
“Now, we talk about public sector. This is not just about public sector unions. This is about every group that wants to organize and bargain collectively to the benefit of their workers. That is why this fight is the fight all of us must join. I’m pleased to be here with all of you. Thank you very much for what you do.”