Sisters & Brothers,

We are disappointed, but not surprised, by the 5-4 Supreme Court decision in the Janus v. AFSCME case to strip labor unions such as ours – and the workers we represent – of our long-held rights. Unfortunately, this ruling reflects the partisan political climate we currently live in and is a product of a decades-long concerted effort by anti-worker forces determined to take away our freedom to stand together and negotiate hard fought benefits.

Despite the challenges ahead, I am confident that the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild will thrive in a post-Janus world. Guild members are committed to serving our members, our colleges and our students. We will do this by standing together to fight for good pay, good benefits, a secure retirement, workplace protections and a fair contract that serves to improve the lives of our faculty and communities.

A union is “a group of people working together,” and that’s what we do. There is power in numbers. Our strength is in our membership and the stronger we are the better position we will be in to continue the fight to improve the lives of all faculty. As a member, you have a voice in our union and a seat at the table. Your chapter president will contact you soon to be sure we have a membership card on file for you. If you’re not sure we have one, contact the Guild office at office@aft1521.org or (323) 851-1521.

Despite what you might hear in the media, unions are not backing down, and we are not going away. By standing together we can protect our seat at the table. By standing together we can protect our freedom to negotiate fair wages and benefits. Our members know that by standing together we can make possible that which is impossible for an individual to do. Unions, including ours, will continue to be the counterbalance to corporate greed and the interests of management. We will come out of this moment positioned stronger than ever to protect our rights and continue making progress for all workers. We will continue to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers throughout the Labor Movement to ensure a better future for all working families.

In Solidarity,

Joanne Waddell

Los Angeles College Faculty Guild President, AFT 1521