​Washington, DC - In response to the Supreme Court's decision to grant Certiorari in the case of in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) issued the following statement from Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) union leaders:
 
"Janus v. AFSCME attempts to attack working people's ability to form strong unions and build power for their families and communities. As the nation's largest union, the National Education Association continues to fight for our members, our students, and their families. Our entire movement to build equity and opportunity for all people -- not just the wealthy 1% -- hangs on our ability to organize the unorganized and to elevate and strengthen workers' voices everywhere."  -- Monica Thammarath, APALA National President and Senior Liaison at the National Education Association
 
"We need to challenge the corporate interests that drive this case forward and threaten our ability to support and protect the economic stability of our members, their families, and our communities. The goal of Janus is clear: a play for power backed by millionaires working to pad their own pockets by rigging the economy in their favor. We will not let them silence the voices of workers nationwide." -- Kim Geron, APALA 1st Vice President and member of the California Faculty Association
 
"Unions not only represent the interests of millions of working people and their families, but also provide a path to economic security and upward mobility and access to healthcare, retirement security, and other quality public services. The strength we have in numbers is crucial to leveling a playing field that has too often been tipped in the hands of the anti-worker, extremist, wealthy few." -- Johanna Puno Hester, APALA 2nd Vice President and International Vice President of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
 
"The true intentions behind Janus are disgusting. Too long have corporate interests suppressed the freedoms of working people and our families. We will not back down, and we will continue to amplify the voices of our educators, our students and their families, and all public sector workers who play vital roles in our communities." -- Tracy Lai, APALA National Secretary and Vice President of Human Rights of the American Federation of Teachers Washington
 
"This fight for our union movement is now. Raising wages, improving working conditions, and creating thriving communities for union and nonunion members alike, including those in AAPI communities, are victories we've fought for time and again. We will not tolerate these tactics that aim to divide us and curb the collective power we've built and continue to build." -- Luisa Blue, APALA National Executive Board Member and Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union
 
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​Washington, DC – On March 29, 2016 a Supreme Court vote of  4-4 upheld a 40-year-old ruling temporarily ending a decade-long campaign by anti-union special interest groups to weaken unions that represent teachers, police and firefighters, government workers, and other public service employees. APALA stands alongside the entire labor movement in celebrating a victorious pro-union ruling that protects the rights of all workers and their families. In particular, this ruling is important for women and people of color who make up a majority of the public sector workforce and rely on public sector unions for a pathway to the middle class.

"The is a huge victory not only for public sector workers but the entire labor movement," said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President. "The Supreme Court's decision in upholding our rights for collective bargaining sends a strong message that our democracy cannot be controlled by the wealth of select corporate interest groups.

The case known as Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association would have restricted the ability for working people to come together in unions and assert our collective power to improve lives, workplaces, and communities. This is especially important for low-income, women, immigrants, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities who are still faced with discrimination in the workforce daily

This decision comes shortly after the death of former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, proving even more what is at stake with whoever is appointed as Scalia's replacement.
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"While we recognize the importance of this decision, we also know that our fight to protect working families is far from over," said Gregory Cendana, APALA's Executive Director. "Working families are at the heart of what has made the country prosper and we will continue to fight for justice in the streets, at the voting booth, and in our places of work. This Supreme Court victory is an important reminder that when we are united, we win.”

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​(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) introduced the Workplace Democracy Act to help strengthen America’s middle class by supporting the rights of workers to join unions and have a voice on the job. The Workplace Democracy Act would make joining unions much more accessible by allowing the National Labor Relations Board to certify a union as the collective bargaining representative as long as a majority of eligible workers sign valid authorization cards. Moreover, employers will no longer be able to prevent a union from forming because they would be required to start negotiating within 10 days after certification.

“The Workplace Democracy Act strives to help build America’s middle class by investing in working people to form unions and fight corporate greed,” said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President. “The Bureau of Labor Statistics signifies the benefits of a unionized workforce as seen through the higher wages of union workers (27% greater than non-union workers), paid sick leave (21% greater than non-union workers), benefit pension plans (60% greater than non-union workers), and access to stable health benefits (30% greater than non-union workers).” 
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Unions represent the strongest network where workers have a voice on the job. Their ability to unionize gives millions of workers the opportunity to bargain for better wages, benefits, and safe working conditions. “Corporate profits continue to widen the income and wealth inequality gap where 47 million Americans still live in poverty,” said Gregory Cendana, APALA National Executive Director. “Even as Asian American & Pacific Islander union membership sustains growth, APALA is committed to rebuilding America’s middle class by strengthening workers’ voices on the job and their right to form a union.”

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