Sen. Casey, Labor Leaders Speak Out on Kavanaugh

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 2, 2018 – On a press briefing call today, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) joined leaders and advocates from some of the country’s most prominent labor unions, as well as Alliance for Justice, to express deep concerns about the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court.

A recording of the call is available here.

“Judge Kavanaugh’s record on the D.C. Circuit is hardly surprising: he has frequently dissented from his colleagues in cases involving workers’ rights, discrimination and retaliation, going out of his way to argue that the interests of corporations should trump the interests of workers. Our court system, more so than any other institution, is dedicated to the idea that everyone—not just the wealthy or powerful—should have a fair shot at justice. The nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, in addition to many of the other nominees put forward by this Administration, puts that fundamental principle in jeopardy,” said Sen. Casey. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) is the senior U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and has served in the Senate since 2006. Sen. Casey works to create family sustaining jobs and foster financial security for Pennsylvania families.  

“Kavanaugh’s record is crystal clear,” said AFJ President Nan Aron. “He is a judge who favors the wealthy and powerful, and the agendas of giant corporations, over the lives and livelihoods of working Americans.  Kavanaugh wants to take us back to an earlier time when workers had no rights, when they could be maimed or killed on the job, and for the boss that was all just the cost of doing business. We disagree with Kavanaugh’s vision for America and we believe people all across the country do as well.” Alliance for Justice is a national association of 130 organizations, representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society. 

“We don’t need another justice who only listens to the whispers of the wealthy few and consistently rules against common sense health and safety protections in the workplace,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “The Senate has a responsibility to reject Judge Kavanaugh and demand a justice who will live up to our standard and their oath.” The AFL-CIO is the democratic, voluntary federation of 55 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working men and women.​

“We don’t need another justice who will do the bidding of billionaires, who will be a rubber stamp for corporate CEOs, and who will rig the rules of our economy and our democracy. Dark money special interests already have a voice on the Supreme Court. We need an independent and fair-minded jurist who will truly embrace the words engraved on the front of the Supreme Court building: Equal Justice Under Law,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. AFSCME’s 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in hundreds of different occupations — from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers — AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.

“The midterm elections and this Supreme Court nominee will determine our country’s future: decency and fairness, or cruelty and inequity. These are fights for the soul of our country — an economy that provides living wages for all, a voice on the job, a secure retirement, safe, welcoming, well-funded neighborhood public schools and accessible college, and affordable healthcare, so nobody is one illness away from bankruptcy,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “If we want a check and balance to protect our democracy during this time when our norms and values are under great attack, then voting and speaking out are essential. We must encourage our communities to vote, and we must continue speaking out against this dangerous nominee, and the threat he poses to workers’ and students’ rights, to public education and healthcare, and to unchecked executive power. A lifetime appointment of Brett Kavanaugh means lifetime protection of Donald Trump’s hateful, divisive, irresponsible politics, enshrined on our nation’s highest court.” Randi Weingarten is president of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators.

“Judge Brett Kavanaugh can’t be trusted to protect the interests of students and educators,” said NEA Vice President Becky Pringle. “He praised rulings and legal theories that justify allowing taxpayer, public money being funneled into private religious institutions; and he has predicted that a future Supreme Court would uphold school vouchers that go to private schools — all at the expense of students and public education. Americans deserve a nominee that will put children and families ahead of corporations, the wealthy, and the powerful.” The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. Learn more at www.nea.org.

“No matter if you’re white, black or brown, all Americans can agree that we need more good jobs — and union jobs are good jobs. When we’re able to stand together in union, working parents are able to provide for their children and spend quality time with them, older people have the opportunity to retire with dignity and Millennials can build a solid foundation for their future. However, if Judge Kavanaugh were confirmed, he would use the Supreme Court to carry out his mission to make it harder for Americans to join together in unions. From union rights to affordable healthcare to voting rights, there’s too much at stake for our families to be silent. That’s why I’m standing with millions of SEIU members calling on the Senate to reject this nomination,” said Monika Roberts, an SEIU Local 500 member and recently-retired elementary school administrative secretary.  The Service Employees International Union is an organization of 2-million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide and dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society.