PRINTER'S NO. 3830
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
975
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY D. MILLER, NEILSON, SCHLOSSBERG, J. McNEILL, TAI,
A. DAVIS, KINSEY, DERMODY, WARREN, SNYDER, DAVIS, DRISCOLL,
PASHINSKI, SOLOMON, THOMAS, GAINEY, BIZZARRO, CEPHAS,
O'BRIEN, DONATUCCI, CRUZ, LONGIETTI, DEAN, ROEBUCK, MULLERY,
DEASY, HILL-EVANS, CALTAGIRONE, GALLOWAY, HARKINS AND
READSHAW, JUNE 27, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, JUNE 27, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the impact that the Janus v. AFSCME decision may
have on workers' ability to collectively bargain, recognizing
the importance and legacy of labor unions in building the
middle class and calling for policies that advance workers'
rights.
WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court is expected to rule
in the case of Janus v. American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (Janus) in June 2018; and
WHEREAS, The Janus case impacts public servants such as
nurses, teachers, school district workers, police, firefighters
and social workers; and
WHEREAS, A Janus decision in favor of the plaintiff would
discard a 40-year United States Supreme Court precedent that
strengthens the power of workers by ensuring that those who
benefit from collective bargaining pay their fair share; and
WHEREAS, The Janus case is backed by corporate interests that
want to weaken public sector unionism by dividing union members
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against nonmembers, making it more difficult for workers to find
strength in numbers to negotiate for better working conditions,
better hours, better wages and better communities as a whole;
and
WHEREAS, Labor unions fought for and achieved virtually all
civilized working conditions that we take for granted today,
including, but not limited to, child labor laws, the 40-hour
workweek, minimum wages, vacation days, workplace safety rules,
overtime pay, sick leave, breaks at work, sexual harassment
laws, privacy rights, health insurance and pension coverage; and
WHEREAS, In recent years, there has been a coordinated attack
on workers' rights and middle-class protections in state
capitals across the country, including in Pennsylvania, at a
time when elected officials should be supportive of policies
that help working Americans secure a livable wage and support
their families; and
WHEREAS, The decline in union membership resulting from these
attacks has led to declining wages for working people and the
greatest concentration of wealth in the hands of the super-rich
in more than a century; and
WHEREAS, An adverse decision in Janus could deeply undercut
the financial viability of unions here in Pennsylvania and
around the country, thereby weakening the power of union
members; and
WHEREAS, In light of the looming Supreme Court decision, we
must recognize that unions comprise our friends, family members
and neighbors and that their efforts enable us to meet our
commitments to every resident of this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly should commit to reversing its
recent course of attacking union rights and instead seek to
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maintain and expand labor and workplace rights in this
Commonwealth, including the ability to join and form a union;
therefore it be
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
impact of a Janus v. American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees decision on workers' ability to collectively
bargain, noting the importance and legacy of labor unions in
building the middle class and calling for policies that advance
workers' rights; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express its
strong support for the rights of workers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives endorse the
following:
(1) using the bully pulpit available to lawmakers to
stand with workers in their fights for better wages and a
voice at work;
(2) strengthening the public sector by passing fair
budgets that fund schools and human services;
(3) raising standards on government spending to sustain
well-paying paying jobs and hold accountable employers that
engage in anti-union campaigns with taxpayer dollars;
(4) correcting our tax structure to support the middle
class and narrow the wealth gap;
(5) advancing the right to organize by permitting
municipalities to strengthen labor protections and lowering
barriers to joining unions and other forms of worker
organizations; and
(6) fighting for higher wages and safer working
conditions in the public workplace.
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