N.M. Attorney General Reaffirms Public Sector Workers' Rights

In the wake of the Janus decision, a right-wing attack on union fair share fees meant to make it more difficult for working people to defend themselves when corporations abuse their power, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas issued an advisory last week reaffirming public sector workers' collective bargaining rights.

The advisory emphasized that the only change under the Janus decision for New Mexico workers is that public employers may no longer deduct agency fees from a nonmember's wages. The advisory reaffirmed that public employees have the right to organize; the right to choose a labor organization; the right to join a labor organization; the right to engage in lawful, concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining; and the right to be represented by a labor organization of their own choosing for the purpose of bargaining collectively on questions of wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.

"Attorney General Balderas' advisory is an important reaffirmation of the collective bargaining rights that New Mexico public sector workers still have to join together in strong unions to speak up for themselves, their families, and their communities," CWA said in a statement.