For immediate release:
Media Contact:
Carol Burris, Network for Public Education: 516-993-2141 (cell) cburris@networkforpubliceducation.org
NPE calls decision “politically motivated” and not in the best interest of American public school students.
New York City, New York —The Network for Public Education is deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to rule in favor of the plaintiff in Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 3.1. By a 5 to 4 vote, the Court nullified the laws of 23 states and the District of Columbia that oblige those who are covered by public sector union contracts to pay “fair share” fees. Such fees cover the expense of the cost of negotiating and enforcing employment contracts. In doing so, the Supreme Court overturned the 40 year-old decision of a previous court that asserted the right of unions to receive payment from all they represent.
“This ruling is an extraordinary example of judicial activism on the part of a court whose majority claim to be aligned with conservative principles,” said Network for Public Education Executive Director, Carol Burris. “It is clear this was a politically motivated decision designed to reduce the power and voice of public sector unions—including all of the unions that represent teachers, nurses, custodians, instructional assistants and administrators in public schools.”
The implications of the decision go far beyond the protection of workers’ rights. It will have a deleterious effect on the well-being of all public school students. Teacher unions have been strong advocates for well-funded, safe public schools for America’s children.
NPE Board member and student and parent advocate Leonie Haimson said, “For more than fifty years, teacher unions have been a positive force in fighting for more funding and better conditions in our public schools, including smaller class sizes. Especially now when our public school system is under attack, we need strong unions to preserve, protect and strengthen our public schools from the privateers who are trying to undermine them by outsourcing education to corporations — whether charter schools, private religious schools or ed tech companies.“
NPE President, Diane Ravitch agrees. “The evidence is clear. Nations with strong student performance, such as Finland, have strong teacher unions. The best student scores on the NAEP exams are in states with strong unions, while weak scores are associated with states with so-called “right to work” laws. Unions give teachers a voice to advocate for more funding for schools and better working conditions. This provides great benefit for students. This is a sad day not only for our nation’s education professionals but for our nation’s children.”
About the Network for Public Education
The Network for Public Education (NPE) was founded in 2013 by Diane Ravitch and Anthony Cody. We are an advocacy group whose mission is to protect, preserve, promote, and strengthen public schools for both current and future generations of students. The goal of NPE is to connect all those who are passionate about our schools – students, parents, teachers and citizens. We share information and research on vital issues that concern the future of public education.
networkforpubliceducation.org
Diane Ravitch's blog 
What’s the next boogeyman of schools ed reformers go after?
Expect layoffs in the ed reform lobbying classes. Without anti-union politicking they don’t have a whole lot of work to do.
There’s only so many charter and voucher cheerleaders one can reasonably employ.
They’re no longer useful to the billionaires. Now they can cut labor costs and fire a bunch of “experts”.
Yesterday the Statue of Liberty wept. Today SCOTUS turned the clock back on labor rights by 100 years. Our nation is in trouble.
I recall the feeling of elation after the last union representation case was heard 40 years ago. The union was able to levy an agency fee as a result of the decision. Unfortunately, these are much worse times for labor in this country as billionaires and corporations drown out the voices of working people. Under the influence of the Koch brothers, Waltons and people like DeVos, the court has moved to the right. Public unions are under attack, and the Janus decision is a blow. The US currently has one of the lowest union membership rates in the industrialized world, and this is horrible for working American families https://www.vox.com/2014/9/1/6078697/decline-of-unions-united-states-worldwide-oecd
Very sad and tragic, a big blow against teacher unions. I can see principals telling the new hires that they don’t have to join the union, think of all the money they will save and there will be some veiled threats added to intimidate any teacher who thinks of joining the union.Too many young folks don’t realize the importance of unions and their role in leveling the playing field. NJ is a blue state with a very strong teachers’ union, the NJEA. This will affect the NJEA and will erode its power over the coming years as new hires opt out of the union with lots of pressure from the principal and school boards. The current crop of veteran teachers will probably stay in the union but there are always the hyper conservative GOP knuckleheads who will jump at the chance to put the knife in the back of the union.
This is good news:
“At least six Republican incumbents were bounced from office during Oklahoma’s primary election, including several who were targeted by pro-education groups.
Tuesday’s primary election was the first test for many of the nearly 100 teachers running for office in Oklahoma after a year that saw tens of thousands of educators walk off their job for two weeks to protest dwindling funding for schools.”
They continue to ignore public schools at their peril. They can all be replaced, Republicans AND Democrats.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article213900789.html
Go Chiara! You’re damn right!!!
They will coming after our pensions next.
Illinois has passed laws reducing current teachers’ pensions. Those of us who have retired have protection in the state constitution. We had to hire lawyers and pay a hefty fee to protect what was guaranteed to us. It is speculated that future teacher retirees will be on the poverty level.
The same things are going on in NJ. The pensions have been underfunded for decades by both parties; pension designated funds were used to balance the budget. Christie eliminated the COLA for current employees and retirees, retirees had no protection against this cut. Plus current employees are paying more into their pension and health benefits and yet the teacher haters are still screaming and hollering foul against teachers. They say that since the private sector does not have all these benefits why should teachers, blah, blah. Sickening.
Perhaps unions leaders should make union membership more attractive to recruit teachers who may not appreciate or share the political ideology of the union or the costs they demand. I would guess that there are many teachers that are barely making it while union folks who are not in the trenches see huge salaries. Opting out is too difficult in some unions. Seems to me that workers should be able to opt in first. Unions certainly have their place and have done wonderful things but people should have a choice.