FRANKLIN, Pa. — Disappointed but not unexpected is how David Henderson, the Director of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council) 85, which represents workers in Northwest Pennsylvania including Clarion, Forest, Jefferson, and Venango Counties said about Wednesday’s United States Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME.

(Photo: Clarion University professors during a brief 2016 strike by APSCUF)

The 5-4 decision along ideological lines basically states that non-union workers no longer have to pay fees that allow unions to collectively bargain. It overturns a 1977 U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed unions to collect “agency” fees because they were required to negotiate for all workers, not just union members.

The ruling will affect many local workers with AFSCME representing a variety of public employees in the area including many of the non-teaching staff at Clarion University. The ruling will also have an effect on the PSEA, the union that represents public school teachers as well as APSCUF, the union that represents the teaching staff at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Schools.

Despite the ruling, Henderson, who said he didn’t know exactly how many fair-share members were in Council 85, said Council 85’s approach won’t change.

“We are here for our members,” Henderson said. “That’s not going to change. “We are here for workers’ rights. Our mission has always been to provide dignity and respect for the folks we represent, really, for all workers. As we continue to move forward we will do what we have always done, work hard for the folks we represent.”

While Henderson and other union leaders are disappointed in the ruling, the Val DiGiorgio, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, was singing a different tune.

“We are pleased that the Supreme Court finally acknowledged what we’ve known all along: that many Pennsylvania public sector employees have been forced to live under the yoke of public sector unions and pay their hard-earned money into organizations they neither wish to support nor belong to,” DiGiorgio said.

Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor, Tom Wolf, had a very different thought on the ruling.

“The Court’s decision is a major step backward for working families and the middle class,” Wolf said. “For generations, unions in our country have fought for and won protections we all enjoy, including the 40-hour work week, weekends, paid time off, and improved conditions for those who are trying to make ends meet.

“When people can come together and use their voices, we all benefit. And when workers are silenced, families pay the price and the economy becomes more rigged for the rich and powerful.”

DiGiorgio believes that forcing non-union members to pay a union fee created an “unfair” political advantage.

“They (unions) now have become used to putting millions of dollars into elections at the drop of a hat,” DiGiorgio said.

Union’s typically support Democratic candidates — in 2016 over 99 percent of all of AFSCME’s donations reportedly went to Democratic candidates, and union members have voted for the Democratic Candidate for President every presidential election since 1976 with the exception of Ronald Reagan’s two victories in 1980 and 1984. Although, in 2016, Hilary Clinton only received 8 percentage points more of the union vote than Donald Trump.

Despite getting so much union support during his election, Trump took to Twitter praising the court’s decision.

“Supreme Court rules in favor of non-union workers who are now, as an example, able to support a candidate of his or her choice without having those who control the Union deciding for them,” Trump tweeted. “Big loss for the coffers of the Democrats!”

Wolf said he believes special interests drove the case.

“This case was driven by special interests trying to maximize their own profit at the expense of families,” Wolf said. “The Court’s ruling is just the latest effort to deny workers the dignity and respect they deserve.

“Here in Pennsylvania, I will continue to focus on creating good-paying jobs and growing our economy. Protecting the rights of those who work hard, every day, to get ahead, is integral to achieving our collective goals.”

Dolores McCracken, the PSEA President, said the goal of the people who funded the lawsuit was to silence the unions.

“I can tell you that it’s not going to happen,” McCracken said. “I am extremely proud of the services PSEA provides its members, and I’m confident that the 181,000 members PSEA represents will continue to see the value in belonging to our Association.

“The bottom line is this. PSEA members know that their union membership is what helps them to get the salaries, benefits, and working conditions that every public school employee deserves. And, together, we’re going to keep doing everything possible to make sure that’s what they get.”

DiGiorgio refuted that by saying the ruling “begins the process of restoring fairness to a system that has needed it for far too long.”

He also said the Pennsylvania Republican Party is considering asking a court to issue an injunction to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision and to stop the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from collecting agency fees from non-union members.

David Fillman, the Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13 representing Pennsylvania workers said the history of labor movements is full of ups and downs.

“But we never quit,” Fillman said. “We will do whatever it takes to come back from this ruling and grow stronger than ever.”