Assemblyman Doug Smith’s statement in reaction to the Supreme Court Decision in the Janus Case.

“Unlike Private Sector Employees, government workers including teachers, law enforcement, highway workers, many medical professionals in our state, cannot strike and do not have the same flexibility in the collective bargaining process. Until recently there was an obligation for all Public Sector Unions to collectively bargain for and defend every employee. All public employees already have the ability to opt-out of having any of their money spent for political action, and solely pay the agency fee for the benefits they are receiving including collective bargaining and representation in disciplinary matters. Union leadership roles are elected positions open to any member of the union who believes the organization should move in a new direction. For all of those reasons, I stand in continued support of our brave members of law enforcement, hardworking municipal employees, dedicated educators, caring medical professionals, and others. I encourage my friends, neighbors, and constituents to stick with your union and take a more active role to help make your workplace a better place. The current labor laws and workplace protections that we have today are a result of decades of advocacy on the part of the labor movement and we cannot afford to let this decision change that.”