Fifty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. joined striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee as they fought for the freedom to join together in a strong union and be treated with dignity and respect at work.
Now, fifty years later, as corporate elites, anti-worker extremists, and corrupt politicians continue to rig the economy against us, working people and allies nationwide are rising up again.
This week PFAW and other allies showed up for the Working People’s Day of Action and a rally outside the Supreme Court for arguments in Janus V. AFSCME –demonstrating that we stand united in favor of workers’ rights and will fight to keep our democratic power of the people.
We stood up for the freedom of working people to come together in strong unions and fight for decent and equitable pay for our work, affordable health care, quality schools, vibrant communities, and a secure future.
MASSIVE crowd outside of the Supreme Court to stand for workers’ rights. #WeRise #JanusvAFSCME pic.twitter.com/zn5LAXkKQH
— PFAW (@peoplefor) February 26, 2018
Janus is a case ginned up by the far right to attack organized labor and undermine the bargaining rights of some 17 million public-sector workers across the country.
As with many issues of economic justice, people of color and women could once again be hit the hardest by a bad decision in Janus. A new study shows that the attack on workers’ rights central to the Janus case would have a particularly heavy impact on black women, who are disproportionately represented in the public sector workforce.
“I am here today as a daughter of 3 generations of union household stability and today we stand shoulder to shoulder to say we will not allow our power to be stripped away.”
- Muthoni @emilyslist #JanusvAFSCME pic.twitter.com/IsNjn48T4E
— PFAW (@peoplefor) February 26, 2018
“I am here today as a daughter of 3 generations of union household stability and today we stand shoulder to shoulder to say we will not allow our power to be stripped away,” Muthoni Kraal of Emily’s List.
At PFAW, we are committed to this fight, and believe the right to organize in labor unions must be protected for all Americans.