Faith Leaders Condemn Supreme Court Decision:
Ruling in Harris v. Quinn Will Hurt Caregivers and the People They Serve
**Partner Organizations and Quotes from
Individual Faith Leaders Listed Below**
WASHINGTON, DC—In response to the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court today that weakens
the collective bargaining power ultimately jeopardizes the ability of seniors
and people with disabilities to get the reliable care they need to remain at
home, the PICO
National Network, Faith in Public Life, and nearly one dozen, non-partisan and multi-cultural faith-based
organizations issued the following statement and words of support:
“Today,
the Supreme Court issued a decision in Harris v. Quinn that undermines the
labor rights of Illinois home care workers and puts at risk the quality of care
for seniors and people with disabilities. The 5-4 decision also compromises the
future of critical services we all need while putting wages and benefits
at risk for millions more.
“People,
who bathe, feed and care for the sick and the elderly in our society, as well
as those who protect and serve our communities such as firefighters, police
officers, nurses and teachers, must themselves be treated with dignity and
respect. That includes the ability to bargain collectively for fair
wages, good benefits, safe workplaces and higher standards
for the services our communities need.
“While
we are deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision and its impact on
home care workers, we are relieved that the Court reaffirmed the long-standing
collective bargaining rights of public sector employees. As people of
faith we believe in the dignity of all work and the fundamental right of all
workers to organize for better pay, benefits and working conditions.”
“Today,
we stand up in solidarity with the millions of those working so hard to bring
comfort to so many. We reaffirm their sacred and constitutional right to
join together to fight for better lives for themselves, their families and
those for whom they care.”
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Christian
Community Development Association (CCDA), Faith in Public Life, Interfaith
Worker Justice (IWJ), National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC), NETWORK,
PICO National Network, Presbyterian Church USA, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference,
Sojourners
QUOTES
FROM FAITH LEADERS OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
“Home health care aides
provide one of the most important services in our society—caring for the
elderly, disabled and infirm. But it’s difficult to provide quality
care to others when you’re worried about putting food on your own family’s
table. We must treat all workers fairly by paying them a living wage
and allowing them to join together to improve their own working conditions. Our
commitment to Biblical justice demands that we speak out on behalf of these
workers. ”—Rev. Noel Castellanos,
Chief Executive Officer, Christian
Community Development Association (CCDA).
"The care and compassion
that home healthcare providers give the sick and the elderly echoes the healing
ministry of Jesus. These hardworking, underpaid workers deserve the
dignity afforded by a voice in the work place, but the Supreme Court struck a
blow to this principle today.”— Rev. Jennifer Butler, Chief Executive Office, Faith in Public Life (FPL).
“Homecare workers provide
critical tasks for families and the society. Like other workers, they
deserve to have voice and representation in their jobs and advocates for
improving wages and benefits. The Supreme Court should help us move toward,
instead of hindering, serving the common good.” — Kim Bobo, Executive Director, Interfaith
Worker Justice
(IWJ).
“In a democracy one of
the greatest gifts is being able to stand up and have a voice in decisions that
impact your life. As an Evangelical I support the right of these
hard-working women and men to have a say in their working conditions so they
can build better lives for themselves and their families.”— Rev. Gabriel
Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NALEC).
“The practical impact of
today’s decision will be to make it harder for everyday heroes to deliver quality public services to millions of Americans all
across the country. This decision, however, does not stop the resolve of working
people who come together to have their voices heard make real change in
communities."— Rev. Michael-Ray Mathew, Director of Clergy Organizing, PICO.
“In the PC (USA), we have long supported the rights of workers
to come together and collectively bargain for the good of all.
Today’s Harris v. Quinn decision is a
step backward for all workers, for as we rise together, so together do we fall. The services of home health care
workers, who are disproportionately women and
people of color, are essential for older
adults and people with disabilities, as well as their families, who all depend on a caring, competent, and
stable workforce that enables living at
home and aging with dignity. That these workers would be denied the basic human right to organize for better lives,
wages, and working conditions is a travesty and
a shame on this nation.” — The Rev. J. Herbert Nelson, Director for
Public Witness, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
“Today marks a major step
backwards for racial and economic justice. More than 9 out of 10 home
care workers in the U.S. are women, and nearly half are women of color.
Racist politicians ensured that home care workers were excluded from New Deal
labor protections in the 1930s, now the Supreme Court says they do not even
have the right to come together to fight for a better deal. This is a
moral outrage. We will continue to support home care workers in the fight
for their human dignity.”—Dr. Iva
Carruthers, General Secretary, Samuel DeWitt Proctor
Conference
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PICO National Network is the largest
grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. PICO works
with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through
its 60 local and state federations. PICO and its federations are non-partisan
and do not endorse or support candidates for office. PICO urges people of faith
to consult their faith traditions for guidance on specific policies and
legislation. Learn more at www.piconetwork.org