As U.S. Supreme Court rules on Janus vs AFSCME case, education workers commit to fight for good jobs and quality education by standing union strong
LOS ANGELES, CA – Members of SEIU Local 99, including thousands of school workers at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), are responding to today’s Supreme Court decision by vowing to stand united.
“The reality is that working people have never needed legal permission to fight for good jobs and better livelihoods,” said Conrado Guerrero, President of SEIU Local 99 and a Building Engineer with LAUSD. “SEIU Local 99 members at LAUSD recently proved it as we geared up for a strike to win a fair contract. We know that it’s only by coming together in our union that working people are able to raise wages, win affordable health care for our children, and improve the services for the students and families we serve. No court case will stop us.”
“It’s through collective bargaining and united action that workers have a seat at the table to negotiate for better lives and better public services,” said Elizabeth Parker, a Special Education Assistant at LAUSD. “It’s through my union job that I’ve been able to provide for my family’s health and stability. And I also have a voice to fight for more staffing to make sure my students have the attention and resources they need to learn. I won’t be deterred by today’s court decision.”
Child Care Providers, also members of SEIU Local 99, have been fighting for 15 years to win collective bargaining rights. Their fight, they say, proves that working people will continue for form unions to advocate for their livelihoods and their professions, regardless of any legal decision.
“There is indeed strength in numbers,” said Agustina Garcia, a Child Care Provider in the San Fernando Valley. “Through our union, we’re working to make sure the beautiful and important work of educating our children is valued and respected. The stronger we are, the more difficult it is for bosses to ignore our demands. That’s really why they want to make it difficult for us to form a union.”
“People of color, working women and immigrants see the greatest gains when we organize. It’s not surprising that the extremists behind this case want to divide us,” said Tanya Walters, SEIU Local 99 Vice President and an LAUSD Bus Driver. “We will not be divided. The Supreme Court’s decision today fuels our commitment to stay strong in our unions and support other workers in their fight to unionize.”
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SEIU Local 99 is a union of 35,000 education workers in K-12 schools, early education centers and homes, administrative offices, and community colleges throughout Southern California, including 30,000 cafeteria workers, special education assistants, custodians, bus drivers and others providing essential student services at LAUSD schools. Nearly 50% of SEIU Local 99 members are also parents or guardians of school-aged children and a great majority are members of the predominantly Black and Latino communities they serve.
