Thursday, January 15, 2009

Big Labor Unions Back Overturn of Prop. 8

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that a coalition of labor unions will file a brief with the California supreme court in support of overturning Prop. 8, the ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in the state.

More than 50 labor unions signed onto the brief, including heavy hitters like the California Federation of Teachers, the California Nurses Association, and the Screen Actors Guild.
The labor unions say they represent a combined 2 million people.

"If a simple majority of voters can take away one fundamental right, it can take away another," the unions argue in the brief. "If it can deprive one class of citizens of their rights, it can deprive another class too. Today it is gays and lesbians who are singled out. Tomorrow it could be trade unionists."

The labor unions are arguing that Prop. 8 is not a “constitutional amendment” but rather a “constitutional revision.” A revision would requite a two-thirds vote of the legislature to get on the ballot.

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