When Local 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell invited California Labor Federation leader Art Pulaski to address the Local 1245 leadership at the January Advisory Council meeting, Pulaski answered the call.
“Art has always been a good and loyal longtime friend to local 1245, and has supported us in the many competitive challenges that we face.” Dalzell told the Advisory Council. “I’ve asked him to come here today to talk about a big challenge we’re facing in the public sector, with a case that’s pending in the Supreme Court that’s part of the corporate agenda to dismantle unions.”
Pulaski took the time to explain the court case to the Advisory Council and detail exactly what’s at stake.
California Labor Federation leader Art Pulaski
“The Supreme Court is about to decide on a case called Friedrichs vs CTA … and the decision that the Supreme Court will make will determine whether every public union in California and across the nation will still have the right to have an agency shop. That’s the very essence of this case,” Pulaski explained.
“If [the Court rules in favor of the plaintiffs] what we will see in California is a move by the anti-worker corporations to do away with all union shops, both in the public sector and also in the private sector,” Pulaski continued. ”This is an attack on workers that would affect all of us in California. That’s why we’re asking you to remain vigilant and support us in this fight.”
A few weeks after the Advisory Council meeting, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away, leaving the Court split 4-4 on the Friedrichs case. While most in the Labor Movement consider this to be a temporary reprieve, Local 1245 is still heeding Pulaski’s request to remain vigilant (see ” Update on the Friedrichs v. CTA Supreme Court Case” and “IBEW 1245 Launches Public Sector Member-to-Member Education Drive on the Union Difference”)
Pulaski also took advantage of the opportunity to share his sentiments about Local 1245’s leadership.
“Tom is not just a leader of this great local union, he is also a Vice President of the California Labor Federation, which is a federation of a thousand local unions in California. Tom has always been there as a leader for me and for our Executive Council as a whole,” said Pulaski. “He’ll wait to the right moment and then offer his words of wisdom in to help to move mountains and shape opinions, so we make the right decisions in terms of how we lead the future of the union movement.”
“Of the thousand-plus local unions in California, I think 1245 is just about the best,” said Pulaski. “Tom, I want to thank you for your guidance in the battles that we fight every day, not just on behalf of your members, but of all working people in California.”