Congressman Xavier Becerra: Conservatives on Supreme Court Favor Corporations Over Workers

Statement

Today, Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling in Harris v. Quinn that divides public workers and threatens their right to collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions:

"Yesterday, June 30, 2014, will be remembered by women and workers alike as the day that the conservatives on the Supreme Court exposed their heavy bias in favor of corporations at the expense of women and workers. In Burwell v. Hobby Bobby, the reactionary decision of the Court's conservatives licensed discrimination by corporations against women and their reproductive rights. The same fate befell American workers in Harris v. Quinn, a case where the conservatives undermined the rights of workers to organize effectively to be in a position to bargain effectively with employers.

"The conservatives' disdain for unionized workers is chilling. It reflects a detachment from the real world where the wealth gap only widens between middle class Americans and corporate executives. When workers can negotiate to improve their wages, benefits and training, there is more stability and productivity in the workplace. That's not just good for workers, it's good for employers and American consumers. But, when you're out-of-touch with the everyday battles of hard-working families, you write decisions that steepen their climb.

"At a time when Americans cannot count on Congress to get anything done on account of Republican shutdown politics, now they can't trust the Supreme Court to be on their side against corporate interests. We've got work to do to rebalance our priorities and put our people first."

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