Brothers and Sisters,
The upcoming race for Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, on November 3rd is the single most important political race in recent history. The face of the Supreme Court could change from an anti-labor majority to a pro-labor majority. All active fire fighters and police officers will be directly affected by the outcome of this race.
A single vacancy exists and the race is between democrat nominee Jack Panella and republican nominee Jane Orie-Melvin. The contrast, relative to the labor community, between these two candidates could not be more dramatic. Judge Jack Panella has risen to prominence within the state judicial system after coming from a labor-sensitive, pro-working family upbringing. Judge Panella is the son of a unionized garment worker mother and a union carpenter father whose untimely death resulted in a struggle by his mother to keep the family’s financial survival intact.
Judge Panella knows what it’s like to struggle to make ends meet and knows that without the support of his parent’s respective unions, it could have been much worse than it was.
Judge Panella’s ideology toward organized labor stems from his upbringing in a union household! Judge Panella’s commitment has been and remains true to the protection of both unions and working families.
Mrs. Orie-Melvin’s ideology can be summed up quite simply: Her loyalty and commitment, based on her endorsements and bio, is clearly pro-management and pro business.
This historic election will ultimately help decide the fate of the current and future Act 47 communities and their unionized employees. IAFF Local 60, representing the Scranton Fire Fighters, is currently awaiting the status of an Act 111 contract arbitration that is on appeal to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The Supreme Court has not decided whether or not they will hear this historic case. The case will be the final battle between Act 111 and Act 47. It is imperative, for not only Local 60, but for every current and future Local under the scourge of Act 47 to have a fair shake in the courts to battle the draconian perversion of the Act by overzealous politicians. The absence of a labor sensitivemajority will ensure the demise of Act 111 bargaining rights throughout our state.
This historic opportunity is the first time in 42 years, we can achieve a pro-labor majority in our highest court, just in time for the most important case for firefighters in over 30 years!
Please take the time to educate your membership on this election and please prompt your members and their families to get out and vote for Judge Jack Panella! The jobs and union rights you might save may not be just your brothers and sisters in Scranton, but may be your own!
Respectfully and Fraternally,
Scranton Fire Fighters
IAFF Local #60
