Washington, DC – Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s tie decision in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association:

“By reaffirming the lower court in in the Friedrichs case, the Supreme Court this week secured one of the most important institutions for the American people: the right to organize. Collective bargaining has empowered workers to demand fair wages, adequate protections and well-deserved benefits from their employers. Unions ensure decency at the work place and create true opportunities for economic mobility.

“While the right to organize is secure for now, there is no doubt that it is under attack. If the Court did not have a vacancy right now, it is very likely that the outcome would be different. This case sought to undermine unions by denying their ability to collect dues. We can expect similar deceptive attacks in the future, and we must be ready when they come.

“This decision also marks the first obvious impact of Republican negligence in seating a new Supreme Court justice. Cases involving everything from access to the ballot box to women’s health, corporate accountability to the president’s authority to enforce immigration policies are set to come before the Court. It is time for Senate Republicans to fulfill their constitutional duty and provide for fair consideration of President Obama’s nominee.”

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