WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court released its decision in Friedrichs v. CTA on Tuesday, March 29, and the result was a major victory for public service workers across the country. But Friedrichs is not the end of Corporate America's political attack on workers and the unions that defend them.

Rally at the Supreme Court in January 2016. (AFSCME)

If Friedrichs had gone the other way, the case would have brought "Right to Work" laws to the entire public sector by overturning a unanimous 1977 Supreme Court decision that upheld the necessity of "fair share fees" paid by nonmembers for the cost of their representation.

Friedrichs proponents said the lawsuit was simply about union dues, but cases like this are meant to bust the ability of unions to bargain effectively for the workers they represent. These political and legal attacks are an attempt to break America's fundamental promise – that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can provide for your family and live a better life.

"AFSCME members are more resolved than ever to band together and stand up to future attempts to silence the voices of working families," AFSCME President Lee Saunders said Tuesday. "It's never been clearer that our most basic rights are at stake."

While the result marked a significant defeat for the wealthy special interests who want to hijack our society, their sustained assault on workers and labor rights does not end with Friedrichs. Wealthy anti-worker groups have filed court cases designed to undermine collective bargaining rights across the country, which makes this year's presidential election even more important.

"This case provides a vivid illustration of what's at stake when it comes to the Supreme Court," AFSCME wrote in a press release on Tuesday. "The same wealthy special interests who manufactured this attack on working people are also trying to prevent President Obama from fulfilling his constitutional responsibility to fill the vacancy on the Court."

This week's victory shows workers across the country that we can prevail against the onslaught of baseless litigation from those who want to silence working people in order to benefit their own bank accounts. The Friedrichs result sends a strong message that the Supreme Court will not do the business of right wing organizations that want to win by judicial decree what they cannot win through the democratic process.

Rally at the Supreme Court in January 2016. (Kevin Contee/AFSCME)

Now more than ever, workers realize that they have to stand up in order to have their voices heard. Workers will stand together to oppose candidates who would appoint anti-worker Supreme Court justices. Workers will stand together to support candidates who will protect workers' health and safety. Workers will put their time and effort towards electing candidates who defend unions and would appoint justices who protect workers.

Friedrichs has shown all of us the importance of standing together to fight for what we believe in. Standing together will only become more important as the November election approaches, and as right wing candidates double down on their decades-long attack on the foundations of the American Dream.