Subject: Re: Union Leaders, Members on SCOTUS Grant of Cert in Friedrichs v. CTA
From: "Ann O'Leary" <[email-masked]>
To: Nikki Budzinski <[email-masked]>
Cc: Lauren Peterson <[email-masked]>, Amanda Renteria <[email-masked]>, Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>, Katie Dowd <[email-masked]>, Teddy Goff <[email-masked]>, Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>, Maya Harris <[email-masked]>, Christina Reynolds <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <[email-masked]>, Robby Mook <[email-masked]>, Brynne Craig <[email-masked]>, Marlon Marshall <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:45:08 -0700

The only problem with number one is that the workers in this case do not
want a seat at the table. That is why I prefer number two.

Ann O’Leary
Sent from my iPhone
(510) 717-5518 (cell)

On Jun 30, 2015, at 2:41 PM, Nikki Budzinski <[email-masked]>
wrote:

I like the first one best!

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 30, 2015, at 5:39 PM, Lauren Peterson <[email-masked]>
wrote:

Here are a couple options that fit - let me know what you think?

Our country is stronger when workers have a seat at the table & the right
to organize. #SCOTUS <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SCOTUS> should
protect collective bargaining. -H

The ability to organize & bargain collectively is a fundamental American
right. Proud to stand with unions & working families. #SCOTUS
<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SCOTUS>  -H

On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 5:27 PM, Amanda Renteria <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> Good w that.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 30, 2015, at 5:12 PM, Ann O'Leary <[email-masked]>
> wrote:
>
> OK - to get Lauren, Katie & Teddy started (12 characters too long):
>
>  I stand firmly united behind our unions in their right to organize &
> bargain collectively for higher wages that reflect the value of their
> work.#SCOTUS <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SCOTUS>
>
> On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 2:09 PM, Dan Schwerin <
> [email-masked]> wrote:
>
>> Adding Lauren, Katie & Teddy
>>
>> On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 5:08 PM, Nikki Budzinski <
>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>
>>> I think a tweet could work.  It would be very helpful to do today.  For
>>> the sake of time, I'd take the tweet.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jun 30, 2015, at 5:02 PM, Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Would a tweet not do the trick here?
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 2:04 PM, Amanda Renteria <
>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I worry about being talking "fees".
>>>> I like staying more at platitudes about what unions have done for
>>>> workers.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>> On Jun 30, 2015, at 1:50 PM, Jake Sullivan <
>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Adding Dan.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jun 30, 2015, at 1:44 PM, Ann O'Leary <[email-masked]>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I took a stab at a first draft.  COMMS - Can you play with this and
>>>> send it back around?
>>>>
>>>> Today, the United State Supreme Court announced that next term it will
>>>> hear the case of *Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association*,
>>>> which calls into question the right of public sector to collect a “fair
>>>> share” fee when it bargains for non-union members.  These fees ensure that
>>>> our public sector unions can continue their fight for fair wages and
>>>> benefits that teachers, nurses, child care workers, EMTs, and so many
>>>> others deserve who serve our children and our communities day in and day
>>>> out.  These workers deserve to be part of the strong middle class in
>>>> America and their unions help to make it so.  I will be watching this case
>>>> closely and will be standing firmly united behind our unions in their fight
>>>> for their right to bargain collectively for the higher wages that reflect
>>>> the value of their work.
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 9:59 AM, Maya Harris <
>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> We support crafting a statement. Key is to stay at high level
>>>>> reaffirming her support for protecting workers' right to organize and
>>>>> perhaps stating hope Court will do the same (think she expressed hope
>>>>> SCOTUS would rule in favor of marriage equality while the case was still
>>>>> pending). But we don't want it to look like she's getting ahead of them
>>>>> (e.g., predicting a bad outcome) since they've just taken the case and we
>>>>> don't know the result.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jun 30, 2015, at 11:07 AM, Christina Reynolds <
>>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Defer to policy on this—Ann/Maya?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *From:* Amanda Renteria [mailto:[email-masked]]
>>>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 30, 2015 11:06 AM
>>>>> *To:* Nikki Budzinski
>>>>> *Cc:* Maya Harris; Ann O'Leary; Christina Reynolds; John Podesta;
>>>>> Robby Mook; Brynne Craig; Marlon Marshall
>>>>> *Subject:* Re: FW: Union Leaders, Members on SCOTUS Grant of Cert in
>>>>> Friedrichs v. CTA
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> comms/policy - thoughts?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 11:04 AM, Nikki Budzinski <
>>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Would it be possible to get a statement today?  We can use it to bring
>>>>> with us to policy and political meetings with the labor movement we have in
>>>>> DC tomorrow and Thursday.  This would be very helpful.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 10:29 AM, Amanda Renteria <
>>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Agree. This would go along way if she said something about this.  She
>>>>> knows this issue well from her briefings, etc.  +Policy +Reynolds
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 10:10 AM, Nikki Budzinski <
>>>>> [email-masked]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Below is the statement that public sector unions jointly put out in
>>>>> response to Friedrichs.  I'm talking to them about their next steps later
>>>>> today.  Nikki
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *From:* Maiers, Staci [NEA] [mailto:[email-masked] <[email-masked]>]
>>>>>
>>>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 30, 2015 9:40 AM
>>>>> *Subject:* Union Leaders, Members on SCOTUS Grant of Cert in
>>>>> Friedrichs v. CTA
>>>>> *Importance:* High
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>          **
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> For Immediate Release
>>>>> Contact:   NEA:         Staci Maiers, 202-270-5333
>>>>>
>>>>> June 30,
>>>>> 2015
>>>>> AFT:          Kate Childs Graham, 202-393-6354
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> CTA:         Frank Wells, 562-708-5425
>>>>>
>>>>>    AFSCME:  Marianne von Nordeck, 202-429-4309
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> SEIU:        Beau Boughamer, 202-730-7158
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS ON SUPREME COURT GRANT*
>>>>>
>>>>> *OF CERT IN FRIEDRICHS V. CTA*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *Lawsuit Seeks to Curtail Freedom of Firefighters, Teachers, Nurses,
>>>>> First-Responders to Stick Together and Advocate for Better Public Services,
>>>>> Better Communities*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *Jeopardizes American Promise that Hard Work Leads Families to a
>>>>> Decent Life*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> WASHINGTON—NEA President Lily Eskelsen García, AFT President Randi
>>>>> Weingarten, CTA President Eric C. Heins, AFSCME President Lee Saunders, and
>>>>> SEIU President Mary Kay Henry issued the following joint statement today in
>>>>> response to U.S. Supreme Court granting cert to *Friedrichs v.
>>>>> California Teachers Association*:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> “We are disappointed that at a time when big corporations and the
>>>>> wealthy few are rewriting the rules in their favor, knocking American
>>>>> families and our entire economy off-balance, the Supreme Court has chosen
>>>>> to take a case that threatens the fundamental promise of America—that if
>>>>> you work hard and play by the rules you should be able to provide for your
>>>>> family and live a decent life.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> “The Supreme Court is revisiting decisions that have made it possible
>>>>> for people to stick together for a voice at work and in their
>>>>> communities—decisions that have stood for more than 35 years—and that have
>>>>> allowed people to work together for better public services and vibrant
>>>>> communities.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> “When people come together in a union, they can help make sure that
>>>>> our communities have jobs that support our families. It means teachers can
>>>>> stand up for their students. First responders can push for critical
>>>>> equipment to protect us. And social workers can advocate effectively for
>>>>> children’s safety.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> “America can’t build a strong future if people can’t come together to
>>>>> improve their work and their families’ futures. Moms and dads across the
>>>>> country have been standing up in the thousands to call for higher wages and
>>>>> unions. We hope the Supreme Court heeds their voices.”
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> And public servants are speaking out, too, about how *Friedrichs v.
>>>>> CTA* would undermine their ability to provide vital services the
>>>>> public depends on. In their own words:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> “As a school campus monitor, my job is to be on the front lines to
>>>>> make sure our students are safe. Both parents and students count on me—it’s
>>>>> a responsibility that I take very seriously. It’s important for me to have
>>>>> the right to voice concerns over anything that might impede the safety of
>>>>> my students, and jeopardizing my ability to speak up for them is a risk for
>>>>> everyone.”
>>>>>
>>>>> *—Carol Peek, a school campus security guard from Ventura, Calif.*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> “I love my students, and I want them to have everything they need to
>>>>> get a high-quality public education. When educators come together, we can
>>>>> speak with the district about class size, about adequate staffing, about
>>>>> the need for counselors, nurses, media specialists and librarians in
>>>>> schools. And we can advocate for better practices that serve our kids. With
>>>>> that collective voice, we can have conversations with the district that we
>>>>> probably wouldn’t be able to have otherwise―and do it while engaging our
>>>>> communities, our parents and our students.”
>>>>>
>>>>> *—Kimberly Colbert, a classroom teacher from St. Paul, Minn.*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> “As a mental health worker, my colleagues and I see clients who are
>>>>> getting younger and more physical. Every day we do our best work to serve
>>>>> them and keep them safe, but the risk of injury and attack is a sad, scary
>>>>> reality of the job. But if my coworkers and I come together and have a
>>>>> collective voice on the job, we can advocate for better patient care,
>>>>> better training and equipment, and safe staffing levels. This is about all
>>>>> of us. We all deserve safety and dignity on the job, because we work
>>>>> incredibly hard every day and it’s certainly not glamorous.”
>>>>>
>>>>> *—Kelly Druskis-Abreu, a mental health worker from Worcester, Mass.*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> “Our number one job is to protect at-risk children. Working together,
>>>>> front-line social workers and investigators have raised standards and
>>>>> improved policies that keep kids safe from abuse and neglect. I can't
>>>>> understand why the Supreme Court would consider a case that could make it
>>>>> harder for us to advocate for the children and families we serve—this work
>>>>> is just too important.”
>>>>>
>>>>> *—Ethel Everett, a child protection worker from Springfield, Mass. *
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ###
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *About the National Education Association*
>>>>>
>>>>> *The National Education Association is the nation’s largest
>>>>> professional employee organization, representing nearly 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*
>>>>> <http://www.nea.org/>* and follow on Twitter at @NEAmedia.*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *About the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)*
>>>>>
>>>>> *The American Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, was
>>>>> founded in 1916 and today represents 1.6 million members in more than 3,000
>>>>> local affiliates nationwide. AFT represents pre-K through 12th-grade
>>>>> teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher
>>>>> education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local
>>>>> government employees; and nurses and other healthcare professionals. Go
>>>>> online to **www.aft.org* <http://www.aft.org/>* or @AFTunion to find
>>>>> out more.*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *About the California Teachers Association (CTA)*
>>>>>
>>>>> *The 325,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated with
>>>>> the 3 million-member National Education Association. Find out more at *
>>>>> *www.cta.org* <http://www.cta.org/>* and follow CTA on Twitter at
>>>>> @CATeachersAssoc.*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *About the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal
>>>>> Employees (AFSCME)**AFSCME is the nation’s largest and fastest
>>>>> growing public service employees union with more than 1.6 million working
>>>>> and retired members. AFSCME’s members provide the vital services that make
>>>>> America happen. We are nurses, corrections officers, child care providers,
>>>>> EMTs, sanitation workers and more. Read more online at *
>>>>> *www.afscme.org* <http://www.afscme.org/>* and @AFSCME.*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *About the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)*
>>>>>
>>>>> *The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) unites 2 million
>>>>> diverse members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The nation’s
>>>>> largest health care union, SEIU represents nurses, LPNs, doctors, lab
>>>>> technicians, nursing home workers, and home care workers in addition to
>>>>> building cleaning and security industries, including janitors, security
>>>>> officers, superintendents, maintenance workers, window cleaners, and
>>>>> doormen and women. SEIU also represents public workers including local and
>>>>> state government workers, public school employees, bus drivers, and child
>>>>> care providers. Learn more at **www.seiu.org* <http://www.seiu.org/>* and
>>>>> @SEIU.  *
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *******************************************************************
>>>>> Only the individual sender is responsible for the content of the
>>>>> message, and the message does not necessarily reflect the position
>>>>> or policy of the National Education Association or its affiliates.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> Nikki Budzinski
>>>>>
>>>>> Labor Outreach Director
>>>>>
>>>>> Hillary for America
>>>>>
>>>>> 646-854-1442 (direct)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> Amanda Renteria
>>>>>
>>>>> National Political Director
>>>>>
>>>>> Hillary for America #Hillary2016
>>>>>
>>>>> 559-426-5756 (o)
>>>>>
>>>>> 650-868-1188 (c)
>>>>>
>>>>> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/renteriaforcongress> or Twitter
>>>>> <https://twitter.com/AmandaRenteria>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> Nikki Budzinski
>>>>>
>>>>> Labor Outreach Director
>>>>>
>>>>> Hillary for America
>>>>>
>>>>> 646-854-1442 (direct)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>> Amanda Renteria
>>>>>
>>>>> National Political Director
>>>>>
>>>>> Hillary for America #Hillary2016
>>>>>
>>>>> 559-426-5756 (o)
>>>>>
>>>>> 650-868-1188 (c)
>>>>>
>>>>> Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/renteriaforcongress> or Twitter
>>>>> <https://twitter.com/AmandaRenteria>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Ann O'Leary
>>>> Senior Policy Advisor
>>>> Hillary for America
>>>> Cell: 510-717-5518
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Ann O'Leary
> Senior Policy Advisor
> Hillary for America
> Cell: 510-717-5518
>
>