AFSCME members won’t back down
When the US Supreme Court ruled in the case of Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 on June 27, the court’s majority sided with the super-rich who are out to consolidate ever greater power in their own hands by weakening unions in our country. AFSCME members know that our freedom to have a strong voice on the job is under assault—and they’re pledging to stick with their union.
“I call the people behind this case nothing more than wolves in sheep’s clothing,” said Christina Loudermilk, President of Local 1058 at the City of Rockford. “They just want to be able to strip away our rights.”
“We are not going to let that happen,” said Jose Prado, a member of AFSCME Local 2866 at Stateville Correctional Center. “We’re going to fight for what’s right for our families and our communities.”
Who’s pulling the strings
Originally filed by billionaire Republican Gov. Rauner, the case was taken up by the National Right-to-Work Foundation and the litigation arm of the Illinois Policy Institute, a Rauner-backed group whose national parent—the State Policy Network—said its intent in bringing the case was to “defund” the labor movement nationwide.
“We’re making certain that every union member knows the real intent of this case--to starve unions of resources, then drive down wages and benefits of public service workers,” said AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch.
No court case will stop us
Unions are the most effective vehicle for working people to negotiate a fair return on our work; our strength in numbers gives us power.
That’s why the forces behind the lawsuit are waging an aggressive campaign to get employees who are currently members to drop out of the union.
That’s not going to happen, said Keith Kracht, president of Local 203 at Central Correctional Center: “With the union we get respect for the work that we do. The strength of a union is in its numbers. When our backs are to the wall, we stand together. We won’t quit.”
No court case, and no amount of wealth and power, can stop our movement. Working people are more resolved than ever to stick together and fight back against any attacks that attempt to divide us.
Stay AFSCME strong
AFSCME is Bruce Rauner’s and IPI’s number one target in their union-destruction scheme. That’s why local unions all across Illinois are getting ready for the attack we know is coming. We need to stick together, fight back and stay union!
- Only through our union will we have the strength to stand up to our employer to protect and improve our pay, our health care, our pensions and our rights on the job.
- Because everyone benefits from the union contract, everyone should contribute to the costs of negotiating and enforcing the contract.
- Being part of a union means standing together with your co-workers to make things better for everyone.
- Make sure you’re a union member. Sign your AFSCME Strong card today!