Hoffman: Supreme Court Decision a Major Blow to Labor Unions

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s anti-union ruling in Janus v. AFSCME, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, Chairman of the House Labor and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement Wednesday:

“The ongoing assault on the rights of working families is an egregious disgrace to workers across the country. The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the rights of workers in its 5-4 decision today is tremendously harmful for the future of working men and women to remain above the fray of economic uncertainty.

“In its decision, the Supreme Court held that requiring non-union public-sector employees to pay union dues is inconsistent with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, claiming that it violates freedom of speech. However, this is not a case about free speech. Furthermore, non-union workers benefit from the collective bargaining power of public-sector unions, regardless of membership.

“The court fails to consider that unions have long served the needs of working people by providing safe working conditions, health insurance benefits, fair wages, and paid time off for the betterment of their employees. This reckless decision weakens the economic power of unions, significantly undermining their ability to protect the interests of workers in our state and elsewhere.  

“I remain steadfastly committed to serving the core values of organized labor and collective bargaining, as they uphold the most fundamental rights and protections of workers – ensuring livable wages and safety in the workplace.”