Supreme Court dealt a blow to our unions, but not a death blow

In June, the Supreme Court dealt a blow to our unions, but it is not a death blow, for our unions will rise stronger than ever. A common question I am asked as I run for the 34th state Senate seat is why do I support unions? The answer is simple: history has proven that unions are the reason we have a middle class, safe working conditions, and prevent the people from being indentured servants. Our union workers build our state, teach our children, care for our sick, run our essential services, and so much more — they are our partners not the enemy.

Across the nation, I fear that the recent setback to our unions will cause much hardship, but this will do exactly what it has done in the past … fuel the fire of our citizens to unite and organize to protect their rights to a seat at the table with fair wages and benefits. And when people are treated fairly, everyone, with the possible exception of the 1 percent, does better; our nation does better. Our state does better.

When elected, I will treat our partners with respect and in doing so I will represent residents of the 34th District in the way they are hoping for. For when we treat the unions as our partners, their lives are better, they are more productive, they are happier, the need to spend state money on support programs decreases, the tax base increases, and we are all better off. The seven poorest states in our nation are “right to work” states, states which ensure that the people are left to the mercy of corporations. I will do all I can to make sure that Connecticut never becomes a “right to work state” and that our state flourishes as all the people living here flourish.

The Janus case hurts, but we will rise stronger. I will help us rise stronger because that is my purpose as a human being and will be my job as an elected official. Joshua Balter

East Haven Candidate for 34th State Senate Seat