For Immediate Release
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Statement by AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on John Roberts' Nomination
On behalf of the 1.4 million AFSCME members, I urge the Senate to vote against John Roberts' confirmation.
On issue after issue, John Roberts consistently sided against workers and for the wealthy and the powerful, ruling against auto workers crippled by carpel tunnel syndrome, against poultry workers fighting for a decent wage, and against coal miners striking to protect their retirees' health coverage.
At a time when the reality of our vast racial and economic disparities have been exposed by Hurricane Katrina, the anti-civil rights positions that Roberts advocated in the past and refuses to disavow now suggest his leadership on the Supreme Court would further divide our nation.
In the most anti-worker environment in 80 years, America's workers cannot afford to have John Roberts on the bench.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, is the nation's fastest growing public service employee union with 1.4 million members. AFSCME organizes for social and economic justice in the workplace and through political action and legislative advocacy. AFSCME represents a diverse group of service and health care workers in the public and private sectors including nurses, EMTs, bus drivers, child care workers, custodians and librarians.
