WASHINGTON – The Illinois Federation of Teachers say the Janus decision "isn't going to break us." The Chicago Teachers Union blamed Governor Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel:
Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery released the following statement:
Though not unexpected, it was incredibly disappointing to see powerful special interests take precedence over the best interests of middle-class Americans at the Supreme Court today.
This case was a direct attack on working people and the causes we fight for every day – protections like health care, safe workplaces, and small class sizes.
This is personal for all teachers, school staff, college faculty and staff, graduate workers, and other hardworking public employees – but even more so here in Illinois, where Governor Bruce Rauner originated this well-funded attack.
Rauner and his powerful friends are focused on eliminating unions because we are one of the last checks on their control and their attempts to rig the economy and democracy further against working people.
And so no court case will divide us or stop our movement. We value our voice. We value our union. And we will keep fighting powerfully for the future we all deserve.
Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey issued a statement after the ruling attacking both Gov. Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel:
“Today we will see neoliberal Democratic Party political bosses like Rahm Emanuel shaking their fist at this decision, acting as if they have not been bipartisan partners in the erosion of workers’ rights, co-conspirators in the austerity movement and willing allies in the theft of job and retirement security,” Sharkey said.
“While today’s attack will hit all working families hard, in Chicago it will disproportionately hurt Black and Latinx households already reeling from the foreclosure crisis, cuts to social services, school closures, unrelenting violence and high unemployment. Rahm has done nothing to address the needs of these constituencies or these critical issues – or at least, nothing good.”
