This is the Federation Hotline updated Feb. 26.
Janus case update: Justice Sotomayor questions motives of our opponents
The United States Supreme Court today (Feb. 26) heard oral arguments in the Janus case – the case you’ve heard so much about that aims to weaken public employees’ voice at work and at the bargaining table.
US Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor at today’s hearing on the Janus case:
"You're basically arguing, do away with unions," she asked the attorney for the forces trying to take away our voice to win better wages, hours, working conditions and preserve the safety net.
More excerpts from the post-hearing story on the Janus oral arguments:
“The Supreme Court heard fiery arguments Monday in a case that could remove a key revenue stream for public-sector unions.
“A sharply divided court could be poised to overturn a 40-year-old Supreme Court decision that would further undermine an already shrinking union movement....
“When a decision is reached, expected in June, all eyes will be on Trump-appointed justice, Neil Gorsuch, who was uncharacteristically quiet in Monday's proceedings. He asked no questions and will likely be the deciding vote, given that the other justices split 4-to-4 in a similar case last year. The case last year was decided just after the death of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and the balance didn't seem to change Monday.
“’You're basically arguing, do away with unions,’ Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued at one point in questioning the attorney for the National Right to Work Legal Foundation, William Messenger.”
See the full story: https://www.npr.org/2018/02/01/582539884/supreme-court-could-bleed-unions-dry
Meanwhile, Day of Action events send strong message about our “righteous” cause
Today at Harborview Medical Center and UW Medical Center in Seattle, Western State Hospital in Lakewood and Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, members of the Federation and other public employee unions stand up for our freedoms now under attack in the Janus case that went before the United States Supreme Court today (Feb. 26).
NPR said a decision is expected in June, but it could be as early as March, according to some observers.
Today’s Day of Action events follow the Federation’s successful Day of Action event Saturday at Seatac sponsored by hundreds of members of our 10 Policy Committees. The social media posts from those events included the No. 1 Day of Action Facebook post anywhere in AFSCME.
“We have the righteous fight,” Federation President Sue Henricksen told the Day of Action attendees who then gathered with signs, banners and flags to say why they were 100% Union Proud and sticking with their union no matter what the Supreme Court says.
It’s deadline day in the Legislature
Today is the latest fiscal committee deadline. Meaning most House money-related bills must pass their Senate fiscal committees, and most Senate money-related bills must pass their House fiscal committees.
So far today, three of our priority bills have passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee:
- 2SHB 1558 to expand the Public Safety Employees Retirement System (PSERS) to include institutions workers;
- 2SHB 1851, the Taxpayer Protection Act to bring transparency and accountability to state outsourcing; and
- SHB 1559 to extend binding interest arbitration to campus police.
Pending before the House Appropriations Committee is 2SSB 6245, the interpreter services bill.
Hearings on these bills took place Saturday (Feb. 24).
Bills still alive after today’s deadline have until Friday to pass off the floor: House bills in the Senate and Senate bills in the House.
IN MEMORIAM: Harmon Ornbaun
Harmon Ornbaun, a retired construction and maintenance program specialist with state Parks Local 1466 at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, died Feb. 15. He was 64.
Services were held Feb. 21 with full military burial honors at Tahoma National Cemetery. He had served in the United States Marine Corps for more than 20 years, achieving the rank of gunnery sergeant.
“Harmon was friendly and easygoing, with a quick smile, and always willing to lend a helping hand,” his official obituary said.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Mila, two daughters and a son.
Shared leave request
IN NEED OF SHARED LEAVE: Renata Casch, a psychiatric security attendant at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake and a member of Local 782, is in need of shared leave to care for her domestic partner who is suffering from a terminal illness. To help with a donation of eligible unused annual leave or sick leave or all or part of your personal holiday, contact Melissa Brown at (509) 565-4000.
That’s it for now.
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