Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO said:
"Today, working people have persevered in the face of another attack on our rights. All over the country working people are showing that we won't allow wealthy special interests or their politicians to stand in our way to join collectively and make workplaces better all across America. In the face of these attacks we are more committed than ever to ensuring that everyone has the right to speak up together for a better life."
Communications Workers of America (CWA):
"Today's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association case safeguards, at least for now, the right of public workers to engage in meaningful collective bargaining.
"The case had been financed by anti-worker and corporate education supporters who have been working for years to stifle the voices of teachers and other public workers and weaken their collective bargaining rights. It clearly shows how extreme the right-wing assault on workers and their right to bargain, whether public or private sector, has become.
"These same right-wing interests want to block any consideration of President Obama's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. It's time for senators to do their job and take up the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland, not continue the 'politics as usual' that ignores the voice of the American people."
Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders:
"Today's split decision underscores the need to confirm a Supreme Court nominee who will protect the constitutional rights of American workers to collectively bargain for fair wages and safe working conditions.
"The extreme right wing is just one conservative Supreme Court justice away from dismantling the rights of public sector unions to organize and collectively bargain on behalf of all of the workers they are legally bound to represent. We cannot allow that to happen."
Former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke about the importance of the Supreme Court the day before the Friedrichs ruling, saying:
"'The court shapes every aspect of life in the United States,' said Clinton. 'If we are serious about fighting for progressive causes, we need to focus on the courts.'
"[. . .] Clinton asked the crowd to 'make sure the Supreme Court factors into your decision on April 5. Consider, what kind of justice would President Trump appoint? He wants to round up 11 million immigrants and kick them out, what would that mean for a nation built by immigrants?'"
The Importance Of The Supreme Court
The Friedrichs case underscores the importance of who is and who is not on the Supreme Court. This 4-4 split does not put this issue back to bed. Corporate conservatives will engineer a way to bring another case attacking union security agreements before the Court before long.
With Scalia's death there is an opening on the court. President Obama has nominated Judge Merrick Garland, who currently sits on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Constitution calls for the Senate to consider and vote on this nomination. But Republicans are refusing to follow this Constitutional process.
This month's post, Supreme Obstruction explains,
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