[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 21 (Friday, February 2, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E124-E125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A THREAT TO LABOR UNIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 29, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Scott for yielding 
and for anchoring this very important Special Order on the value of the 
labor unions, and the pending case of Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31, No. 
16-1466, which is scheduled to be heard and decided by the Supreme 
Court this term.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my strong hope and expectation that the Supreme 
Court will uphold the position advanced by Respondent AFSCME, Council 
31.
  All workers should chip in their fair share to cover the cost of 
representing them.
  That is because unions work because all employees benefit from the 
terms and conditions of employment negotiated by unions.
  Fair share fees provide public service workers with the power in 
numbers they need to negotiate better wages, benefits and protections 
that improve work conditions and set standards for everyone.
  The corporate special interests supporting this attack on labor 
unions want to weaken the ability of unions to build strength in 
numbers.
  That is why they want the Supreme Court to rule that workers can 
receive all the benefits of a union contract without contributing 
anything in return.
  I know it is fashionable today to disparage, downplay, or minimize 
the importance of organized labor to our country.
  That is easy to do but it would be wrong.
  Those who would destroy or further limit the rights of organized 
labor--those who would cripple collective bargaining or prevent 
organization of the unorganized--do a disservice to the cause of 
democracy.
  Fifty years or so ago the American Labor Movement was little more 
than a group of dreamers, and look at it now.
  From coast to coast, in factories, stores, warehouse and business 
establishments of all kinds, industrial democracy is at work.
  Employees, represented by free and democratic trade unions of their 
own choosing, participate actively in determining their wages, hours 
and working conditions.
  Their living standards are the highest in the world.
  Their job rights are protected by collective bargaining agreements, 
and they enjoy benefits that were unheard of less than a generation 
ago.
  Our labor unions are not narrow, self-seeking groups.
  They have raised wages, shortened hours and provided supplemental 
benefits.
  Through collective bargaining and grievance procedures, they have 
brought justice and democracy to the shop floor.
  But their work goes beyond their own jobs, and even beyond our 
borders.
  Our unions have fought for aid to education, for better housing, for 
development of our national resources, and for saving the family-sized 
farms.
  They have spoken, not for narrow self-interest, but for the public 
interest and for the people.
  Unions are as important as they ever were--because corporations are 
just as dedicated to their bottom line, regardless of the consequences 
for workers.
  Employers are trying to shed responsibilities--for providing health 
insurance, good pension coverage, reasonable work hours and job safety 
protections.
  The simple truth is that no one is forced to join a union and no one 
is forced to pay any fees that go to politics or political candidates.
  Rather, each public service worker chooses whether or not to join a 
union, but the union is still required by law to represent and 
negotiate on behalf of all public service workers--members and non-
members alike.
  All employees receive the wage increases, benefits and workplace 
rights negotiated through the union.
  All workers should chip in their fair share to cover the cost of 
representing them.
  When working people have the freedom and opportunity to speak up 
together through unions, we make progress together that benefits 
everyone.
  Working people need a voice at work to keep employers from making our 
jobs look like they did 100 years ago, with sweatshop conditions, 
unlivable wages and 70-hour workweeks.
  And lest we forget, it was the men and women of organized labor who 
rushed into the burning World Trade Center Towers when others were 
rushing out.
  The men and women of organized labor put their lives on the line for 
their fellow Americans everyday.
  They do not ask for much. All they ask is to be treated with respect 
and dignity.
  They want what we all want: to do their jobs and to make a better 
life for their families.
  The least we in the Congress can do is to go on record in support of 
our working men

[[Page E125]]

and women in the vitally important transportation industries of our 
country.
  We can and should affirm that none of the funds made available in 
this appropriations bill shall be used in a manner that undercuts the 
hard won rights of Americans workers that is reflected in the National 
Labor Relations Act and other important federal labor laws.

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