The Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Saint Peter’s University recently hosted a panel discussion on “Power, Perils and Possibilities: The Future of Organized Labor.”
The panel discussion was one of many diversity-themed events that were held at Saint Peter’s in honor of Black History Month. Panelists included Barry Kushnir, Secretary-Treasurer of the Hudson County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and Dwayne Williams, Ph.D., adjunct lecturer of education, inquiry and justice at Georgetown University and director of education talent search at Minority Access, Inc.
Dr. Williams began the discussion by sharing a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. H ’65, “The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.” While Dr. King’s quote provided some context for the history of unions, the panel went on to discuss the state of unions today.
On February 26, the United States Supreme Court will rule on Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31. This ruling will determine whether Abood v. Detroit Board of Education should be overruled, invalidating “agency shop” arrangements for all public sector employees.
In Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, the Supreme Court decided that public sector employees do not have to pay the political portion of union dues, but must continue paying the dues allotted for collective bargaining, contract administration and grievance adjustment. These dues mandate public union participation since all public sector employees benefit from the decision of unions, whether or not they are union members. However, Janus argues that these expenses are political due to the type of issues public employee unions negotiate.
Kushnir and Dr. Williams discussed the ramifications of this ruling.
In right to work states, unions must legally defend employees who are not members of the union and do not contribute to the costs of collective bargaining. Wages in these states are roughly three percent less than in non-right to work states. According to the Economic Policy Institute, “workers in [right to work] states are less likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance and pension coverage.” The panelists reasoned that unions can help employees receive better access to healthcare and benefits, earn higher wages and have more leverage.
They encouraged students to have conversations about the relationship between wages, labor and standard of living. As the standard of living increases, especially in cities like Jersey City, students should look to politicians at the state level that advocate for policies that support their self-interests.
Kushnir concluded the panel with a story about Dr. King’s untimely death and the fact that he was not assassinated at an event fighting for civil rights, but instead he was at the Memphis Sanitation Strike in support of workers’ rights. The sentiments resonated with students who came to realize the significance of organized labor throughout America’s history.
To learn about future Guarini Institute events, visit saintpeters.edu/guarini-institute/.