Standing Up for Oregon Workers

Statement

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court continued a steady march of decisions aimed at weakening the voices of working people in America.

While I am thoroughly reviewing the Harris v. Quinn decision and assessing what it means for Oregonians, it's clear that the Supreme Court is moving in the wrong direction for working families.

Oregon voters put union rights for home care workers into our constitution -- and this system has worked well for Oregon. That's why my administration filed an amicus brief supporting working families in Harris v. Quinn.

Oregon's home care system has been good for consumers, providers, and the public and I'm committed to maintaining high quality, safe home care for seniors and people with disabilities.

Erosion in workers' ability to organize could undermine our home care system. I have always supported the rights of workers to have a voice on the job, and I have worked to preserve those rights in Oregon.

Earlier this year, I brought together business and labor leaders to agree to stand down -- to remove a set of divisive ballot measures from the November ballot. One of these measures, a so-called "right to work" measure would have effectively expanded the Supreme Court's unwise ruling to all public employees.

The labor movement helped build the American middle class in the last century. I believe a revitalized labor movement is necessary to restore our middle class and ensure that working people have a voice in the economy of the 21st century.

A voice at work is an Oregon value. Oregonians have affirmed this at the ballot box time and time again. If we are to preserve and advance our values in the face of the Supreme Court's anti-worker, anti-middle class opinions, I need your support in this election.

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