Black Women Workers and the Janus Ambush

By Maytté Martinez 

The following blog post is inspired by sisters who have energized and empowered me throughout my first UALE Northeastern Summer School. This is an opinion piece written in collaboration with sister Michelle Keller. 

The recent ruling of the Supreme Court in the Janus case was nothing more than a decision to potentially weaken our collective bargaining power. This is the power that has historically benefited women of color more than all other members in our movement. These are members who are the most vulnerable in the labor market and members who face the double challenge of discrimination based on race and gender.

Women of color are (in general) more than 30% more likely than their white male colleagues to belong to a union. Black women are the largest single demographic amongst all public sector works (1:6 workers). Even with the wage gaps closing for union women in general, black women still make $.72 on the $1 of a white male. (White women make $.88 on the $1 of a white male.) Black women have gained their access to middle class via unions and lifted to the qualifications of so many others.

public sector unions are under attack; and the impacts of this attack will be felt disproportionately by female people of color. Our unions help police job titles, functions and qualifications to create public transparency. By extension, it is black women in unions who have been able to gain employment in the public sector and advance in their career paths.

The impact of Janus could mean less funding for labor unions, threatening our ability to negotiate and maintain our benefits and freedoms in the workplace. The coordinated effort of big business, corporations, politicians and the “Bad Hombre”, have targeted non-union members, encouraging them to stop paying their fair share. This coordinated effort has targeted sectors heavily populated by women such as; hospitals, daycare, education, social work and administration. It is not attacking male-dominated workforces such as engineers or police and fire unions. The intent is to derail unions, strain labor relations, crush WOC laborers and bury their voice.

The labor movement cannot afford to leave anyone behind; it’s personal and too close to home. We need action; run for office, demand a quality of service with a louder voice, engage your colleagues and family, educate and empower them, and most importantly protect all that we have gained and hold dear.