A Labor Day Worry: The Court’s Right-Wingers Are Sharpening Their Knives

[marmar]

(Truthdig) We don’t officially celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1 in this country, even though the worldwide holiday was originated to memorialize the Chicago Haymarket Square Riot of 1886 and the long and often bloody movement waged by American workers to establish the eight-hour workday. Instead, we hold a watered-down substitute, observing Labor Day on the first Monday of September. Each year, the commemoration grows more tepid and disconnected from the historical and current struggles of working people.

If the U.S. Supreme Court’s dominant Republican majority has its way when the panel’s new term commences in October, we might as well dispense with the holiday altogether, or at least drop the term “labor” from its title. Among the most important cases the court will consider when it reconvenes is Friedrichs v. California Teachers, which poses what some observers have called an “existential threat” to public unions and by extension to the entire labor movement.

At issue in Friedrichs is the right of public sector unions to collect limited “fair-share” fees in lieu of full formal dues from nonunion workers to defray the costs of collective bargaining that benefits all employees. A decision against the teachers association would have the potential to bankrupt government employee unions and turn the nation’s entire public sector into one enormous “right-to-work” jurisdiction.

Even before agreeing to hear Friedrichs, the Supreme Court under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts had amassed a staggering résumé of anti-worker decisions. As a study published in January by The Nation explains, the Roberts court has issued rulings that have restricted gender-based discrimination and class-action lawsuits against corporations; curbed age discrimination claims; limited the availability of overtime pay; redefined the term “supervisor” to allow employers to avoid liability for harassment; and made it more difficult for employees to prosecute workplace retaliation grievances. ...............(more)

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/a_labor_day_worry_the_courts_right-wingers_are_sharpening_20150905

[Stargazer09]

1. :(

The Roberts court is truly destroying America.

[antigop]

2. and what type of judges would a corporate Dem try to get on the court? nt

[JHB]

3. No need to wonder. Look at the Clinton and Obama appointees...

And then look at the Reagan, Bush, and Bush appointees.

I don't think I could necessarily count on a corporate Dem to appoint a liberal judge, but I could count on them to appoint one who isn't a conservative political operative in a robe.

[antigop]

4. either way, labor will get screwed. nt

[JHB]

5. No, there's a difference...

One way there's an unacceptably large probability of labor getting screwed, the other is a guaranteed certainty of labor getting its throat cut.

So the unpleasant fact is that two things need to be done at once: promote non-corporate Dems, and beating the Republicans no matter what - even if that means working with a corporate Dem for the time being.

[antigop]

6. no. We need to work our tails off to get the most liberal candidate to win.

Some of us can't afford another corporate Dem.

We need to eat.

And if you don't understand that, you don't understand how most people live nowadays.

[JHB]

7. And if the most liberal candidate doesn't win the primary, what then?

Because then for president it's a choice between a corporate Dem and howling loons.

Work our tails off for liberal candidates to win at all levels: especially congress and state offices.

But electing one guy isn't going to change everything on a dime. And nobody who can't afford a corporate Dem can afford a Republican setting policy, making more giveaways to corporations, and putting conservative activists on the courts.

[antigop]

8. labor is screwed EITHER WAY. I'm sorry if you don't understand that.

Last edited Sun Sep 6, 2015, 01:22 PM - Edit history (1)

We CANNOT AFFORD another corporate Dem. PERIOD.

If you don't understand that, you do not understand how most people live.

And my further posts will not make you understand.

Have a GREAT afternoon.

[JHB]

9. Have a fine afternoon yourself

One of us doesn't understand, but it ain't me. You're the one who's given up and decided we're screwed no matter what.

[Starry Messenger]

10. +1000

I can't even anymore. Thanks for the patience.

[Starry Messenger]

11. This should have 200 recs and be on the front page.

Anyone who claims to care about labor needs to have this front and center on their list of high alerts.

A few more cases like this and we won't have a labor movement anymore, and those who pine for the good old days should be stoked. We will be back to pre Wagner Act times.