Media Contact: David Roscow, 202-537-1645 x254
Washington, DC – ATU International President Larry Hanley issued the following joint statement in response to today’s Supreme Court decision in Harris v. Quinn:
“The Supreme Court, today, struck down the collective bargaining rights of public employees and virtually told all workers that their American Dream might actually become an American Nightmare.
“No one should be fooled into thinking that this decision is only about public sector workers. In doing the dirty work for the Koch brothers and their ilk, the high court lowered the bar that all employers will feel obligated to meet in compensating their workers.
“Not only will this decision decrease the wages and benefits of public servants, but it will degrade the vital services these workers provide the public. However, this capitulation to the privileged few will not go unchallenged.
“Transit workers, in particular, who millions depend upon for essential transportation, will energetically fight any attempt to rob them of their dignity and standard-of-living wherever is appears.
“Make no mistake – this decision is not the end of this story. It is part of an ongoing effort by the obscenely wealthy ultra-rich to render unions totally ineffective, if not eliminate them altogether. And that will ultimately accelerate the current erosion of the middle class and hasten the economic polarization of society that threatens the very foundations of our republic.
“It is time to fight back, and fight hard, and ATU is prepared to do just that.”
About ATU
The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1892, the ATU today is comprised of over 190,000 members in 253 local unions spread across 47 states and nine provinces, including 3,000 workers at Greyhound Lines, Inc. Composed of bus drivers, light rail operators, maintenance and clerical personnel and other transit and municipal employees, the ATU works to promote transit issues and fights for the interests of its hard-working members.