Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham made the following statement on the US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturns Roe v. Wade:
“Reproductive rights are workers’ rights and today’s US Supreme Court decision is a direct attack on working women and people who can get pregnant and reverses nearly a half century of reproductive freedom. As an unprecedented number of working people across the nation organize for just and equitable workplaces, this ruling will only make existing racial and economic disparities worse, especially for low-income women, black, brown, non-binary, and trans workers seeking care.
“Fortunately for working women and people who can get pregnant in Minnesota, our state Supreme Court has ruled our state constitution protects reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy. Minnesota’s unions are committed to protecting these freedoms and closing disparities through policies such as universal paid family and medical leave, affordable childcare, and creating more family-sustaining jobs.
“The extreme conservative majority on this court has shown it has no problem taking away long-established collective bargaining, voting, and now reproductive rights. Today’s decision further emphasizes how important this year’s elections, both state and federal, are to all working people and protecting our freedoms.”