Supreme Court ruling seen as devastating blow to unions

Labor unions across the country were dealt a devastating blow Wednesday with a landmark Supreme Court ruling that will have profound effects on organized workers.

In a 5-4 decision, justices ruled that employees who choose not to join labor associations but who work in union shops — and benefit from unionnegotiated contracts without paying union dues — do not have to pay agency fees similar to ones paid by full-fledged members that go to collective bargaining.

Without that legal precedent, labor leaders envision workers choosing to quit their union and keep dues money in their pocket. They can do so and be fully aware that by law, the union still has to keep collectively bargaining for them.

Angela Cornell, director of the Labor Law Clinic at Cornell University, called the decision in Janus v. AFSCME “another blow against unions and working people. This case was supported financially by very conservative corporate interests that are opposed to collective workplace rights,” she said.

New York State United Teachers President Andrew Pallotta, head of one of the state's most powerful unions, said the decision didn't come as a surprise.

“We expected something like this with the Supreme Court makeup as it is but we have been preparing for it for years,” he said.

“We've reconnected with our members throughout the state,” Pallotta added, “knocked doors, had conversations in schools and in hospitals where they worked to make sure that they knew what the union does for them and what can do for them.”

The ruling, delivered Wednesday on the last day of the Supreme Court's term, is at odds with more than four decades of established labor law and threatens to put severe strains on public-sector unions across the country.

The case was filed by Mark Janus (photo), an Illinois child-support specialist. Janus doesn't belong to the union that represents him — the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — but he's still required to pay the union “fair share” fees to cover the costs of collective bargaining from which he benefits. Janus asked the justices to overrule that because he doesn't agree with AFSCME's political positions and says he shouldn't be forced to pay fees to support the union — even though it collectively bargains and protects Illinois state employees. New York State and city officials and union heads blasted the decision, including Gov. Cuomo. “The Supreme Court just did what Republicans and big business have sought to do for years — attempt to undermine the strength of the labor movement,” Cuomo wrote in a Daily News ditorial. “But not here n New York. Not now, ot never.” Cuomo also signed n executive order hat would make it arder for anti-union roups to mount rop-out campaigns in the wake of the Janus decision.

“The Trump administration has been clear they are anti-union, they represent a part of this country that is anti-union,” he said. “This Supreme Court seems committed to enforcing the President's agenda.”

New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood described the “difficult” ruling as a call to action.

“The right to organize is a fundamental American right that gives working people the power to improve their lives and the lives of their families,” she said in a statement. “Today's decision is a difficult setback, but it should also serve as a wake-up call to redouble our efforts to protect workers' rights.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz called the outcome “a despicable and misguided attack on workers' rights and labor unions enabled by President Trump's stolen Supreme Court seat.”

Transport Workers Union Local 100 president Tony Utano compared the “Supreme Court majority” to “a bunch of Pinkertons in black robes.”

United Federation of Teachers president Michael Mulgrew expressed disappointment in the ruling, but vowed to stay in the fight.

“Everything we have been able to accomplish for our members and our students has come from our ability to work together, and we will continue to fight for the rights of workers, their families and for public education.”

Union activists staged an emergency protest in Foley Square on Wednesday evening.