Bonamici Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31

Press Release

Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31:

"Today's Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 will hurt working families and organized labor, but unions have persevered in the face of adversity before and will again," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "The labor movement helped to build the middle class, and working families are the backbone of our economy. We should be making it easier, not harder, for workers to form unions and collectively bargain. The labor movement has played a critical role in fighting income inequality, improving working conditions, expanding benefits, and protecting the right to a secure retirement. This decision takes us in the wrong direction. In Congress, I will continue to fight for policies that support working families."

As the Vice Ranking Member of the Education and Workforce Committee, Bonamici is committed to strengthening collective bargaining rights, raising stagnant wages, and helping workers save for a secure retirement. Bonamici is an original cosponsor of the Workers' Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would strengthen the ability of workers to join unions and collectively negotiate for better pay and conditions, authorize meaningful penalties for employers that violate workers' rights, protect workers' right to strike, and protect the integrity of union elections. Last month, she spoke on the House floor about how unions helped to build the middle class.

Source