Inside AFT: Post-Janus advice: ‘Don’t count us out’

Right-wing groups have been waging war against public sector unions for many years, so last week’s Janus decision came as no surprise. In her monthly column, AFT President Randi Weingarten describes why Janus was such a “prized goal” for the right wing: Without unions in the way, it’s easier for wealthy conservatives to “win elections, maintain economic dominance and disempower workers.” But unions are not going away, she says. Instead, new members are signing up, recognizing that unions, which negotiate everything from manageable class sizes to safety equipment for emergency personnel, are still the best vehicle working people have to make a difference in their lives and workplaces.