Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement on today's Supreme Court ruling on Janus v. AFSCME:
"Today, the Supreme Court issued a partisan ruling in Janus v. AFSCME that will undermine teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public-sector workers who are fighting for fair pay and decent benefits. Unions are the backbone of the workplace and help keep leaders and elected officials accountable by ensuring employees have the right to organize and have a voice on issues that affect them, their safety, and the well-being of their families," said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13).
"Overturning four decades of precedent, the Court ruled that public sector unions' long-held practice of collecting "fair share fees' for the services they are legally required to provide workers is a violation of the First Amendment. Today's ruling is an unprecedented attack on unions and the rights of the more than 17.3 million public employees around the nation.
"Unions remain the most effective vehicle for the power in numbers needed for working people to secure their rights and freedoms, and provide a pathway to the middle class. Following today's decision, we must continue our fight in support of unions and stand united against efforts intended to divide our nation and weaken the laws that keep workers, our families, and communities strong."