Billionaire funders using Janus to weaken American labor

For more information, contact:
Chris Williams
651-292-4816 (work)
651-247-5539 (cell)

Megan Boldt
651-292-4818 (work)
651-245-9163 (cell)

ST. PAUL, Minn. Sept. 28, 2017 – The U.S. Supreme Court said Thursday it would hear Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, marking the latest chapter in a decades-long campaign by powerful conservative foundations to weaken unions of public employees. Education Minnesota President Denise Specht released the following statement in response. 

“Decent people working in union are the best chance for the middle class to tear down the obstacles to success the wealthiest few have put in our way,” Specht said. “The handful of billionaires behind the National Right to Work Foundation and the State Policy Network know it. They will say, or do, anything to take out the labor movement. Janus is just their latest attempt.”

“The billionaires and their foundations pay for lawsuits like Janus and right-to-work laws because they want to weaken unions by forcing them to provide expensive services for free,” Specht said. “Educators and other people who work for the public see through the rhetoric. We’re prepared, unified and ready to resist on behalf of the parents and communities who depend on us."

About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.