Congressman Sherman Opposes the Janus Decision

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Sherman released this statement after the Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 decision in the case of Janus v. AFSCME Council 31:

"In today's decision in the case of Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, President Trump's Supreme Court overturned decades of American jurisprudence regarding the right to organize and collectively bargain for higher wages and better working conditions.

"The Court's 5-4 opinion barred public sector unions from collecting fees to cover the costs of contract negotiations on behalf of all covered employees.

"This is the latest effort to impose Right-to-Work-for-Less laws around the nation. Today's Supreme Court decision was targeted at the public sector, but it strikes at the heart of Americans' right to collectively bargain for better pay, safer working conditions, access to healthcare, and basic retirement benefits.

"In states that have enacted similar laws, employees earn $8,402 less every year on average than other states.

"The law should not force union members to pay for free riders, who receive the same benefits.

"That is why I introduced the Protecting Workers and Improving Labor Standards Act, which I first introduced a decade ago. This legislation would specifically close the loophole that has allowed individual states to ban equal distribution for covering the costs of contract negotiations.

"The right to representation in your place of employment is a fundamental right, it should not be restricted based on the sector or industry in which you happen to work."​