Two “Janus Response” bills—H.R. 6238 and H.R. 6445—have been introduced in the House of Representatives. The bills, nearly identical in language, aspire to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in the Janus v. AFSCME case, thereby restoring the four-decade status quo in which public-sector union fees were mandatory.
H.R. 6238, the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2018, was introduced on June 27, mere hours after the Supreme Court’s decision in the Janus v. AFSCME case. The bill aims to make collective bargaining for wages, benefits, and working conditions legal in all 50 states for state and municipal public employees. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO would like to thank Rep. Donald Norcross (D-1), Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6), and Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) for co-sponsoring this legislation. We are proud to endorse these representatives who are fighting on behalf of working people to protect their freedom to negotiate for decent pay and fair workplaces.
Similar to H.R. 6238, H.R. 6445 seeks to secure the rights of public employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively so as to safeguard the public interest. The New Jersey AFL-CIO would like to thank Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-4), one of only five republicans in the entire country co-sponsoring the bill which, if passed, will help remedy the consequences of the recent Janus decision.
This isn’t the first time Congressman Smith stepped up to the plate on behalf of working people. In fact, his actions on H.R. 6445 mirror that of 2009, when he acted as one of only four republicans to sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act.
Congressman Smith’s stance on these pro-labor bills affirms his dedication to the labor movement and working families. This is why the delegates at the New Jersey State AFL-CIO unanimously endorsed him.