Michelle Malkin » On Capitol Hill today: Union members testify against forced dues racket

On Capitol Hill today: Union members testify against forced dues racket

By Michelle Malkin • February 8, 2012 09:44 AM

“To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” – Thomas Jefferson

Longtime readers of my work know that I’ve been exposing the compulsory-union dues racket since my days as a columnist at the Seattle Times. Here’s my 1999 column on how public school teachers in Washington state challenged their union over their political dues power grab. Here are your rights as a union worker. Here is a backgrounder on the permissible use of forced dues. As I wrote on Labor Day in 2010, free speech not only means the freedom to voice your political views, but also the freedom from being forced to pay for someone else’s.

U.S. Supreme Court precedent established by the D.C.-based National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation guarantees the right to full financial disclosure from a union and a right to challenge the figures in court if they disagree.

More and more rank-and-file union members have been speaking up against the confiscation of their dues for political purposes they oppose. Remember this Chicago SEIU member from 2010?

Or this letter from a Minnesota teacher last year?

As events have unfolded in Wisconsin, I have been reflecting on my nearly 10 years in public education. My parents were both teachers and I greatly admired the work they did with their own students. I began with that same passion for teaching that they instilled in me, but am finding it more and more difficult to keep that flame alive.

The hold that unions have over the public educational system is nothing short of toxic. Year after year, I have a lot of money taken out of my paychecks for union dues. What do I get for my money? I am bombarded with emails and flyers “urging” us to vote for candidates that coincidentally always have the letter (D) after them. I get to be lectured to by union reps about the evil Republican candidates are and why they know what is best for me.

Now I am being hit with email after email “urging” me to stand with the teachers of Wisconsin. One teacher who is very tight with our union replied to our district making fun of Republicans directly. You might ask why I don’t forward this to human resources, but the repercussions would be brutal.

The truth is that any teacher who does not hold down the talking points of the unions, DNC or Obama White House needs to keep quiet to keep their job. The vitriol I heard over the Bush years was deafening but acceptable and expected. I can hardly remember a week that went by where teachers, sometimes in front of students, were not making fun of Republicans. I’ve personally been the subject of much ridicule and scorn from fellow teachers and will continue to be as long as I am in public education. I believe in what I am doing in my own classroom by focusing on educating students, but as time goes by it is becoming more and more likely that I will leave education all together. Not because of students, but because of the unions and the teachers that support them.

Frustrated in Minnesota

Well, today on Capitol Hill, more brave union members are testifying about the Big Labor money machine forcibly fueled with their hard-earned money. You can watch the proceedings live at 10am at the House Oversight website. You can read the prepared testimony of Mr. Terry Bowman of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Ms. Claire Waites of Daphne, Alabama and Ms. Sally Coomer of Duvall, Washington here.

Chairman Darrell Issa’s opening statement:

Every worker should have the choice to decide whether their money is taken from their paychecks and used to fund political activity. When this occurs, a worker should also have the right to know how their money is spent.

Individual freedom and personal choice are cornerstones of our democratic government—they are also at the heart of union participation in America.

Today’s hearing will examine the process by which union dues are collected and how transparent unions are about this process. The Committee’s focus is not an examination of the validity of unions or their right to exist, but rather an effort to ensure that the political activity of unions does not infringe the freedoms of workers.

Because of recent court decisions and a systematic effort by the Obama Administration to reduce union transparency and reporting requirements, union workers do not currently know how much of the money from their paycheck dues is being funneled to SuperPACs or used for other political activity. The Administration has also drastically reduced the Department of Labor’s ability to effectively audit labor organizations.

These actions will have far-reaching consequences. I welcome the union workers who have agreed to testify today and appreciate their willingness to speak their mind about what they see as unjust restrictions on their freedom of choice in our democracy.

Kudos to Rep. Issa — and especially to the rank-and-file members speaking truth to union thug power.

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Posted in: SEIU,Unions

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Comments

#1

On February 8th, 2012 at 9:52 am, Rogue Cheddar said:

Huh, some of the rank and file don’t like being force fed. Welcome to the @#$%ing club of most of us!
#2

On February 8th, 2012 at 9:53 am, RedDog said:

Unions act as did the old Soviet military political officers and civilian commisars. They were tasked with maintaining political order and purity, through force if necessary.

Some things never change, and they still use the same playbook.
#3

On February 8th, 2012 at 9:55 am, RedDog said:

These “malcontents” had better watch their backs. They are likely to suffer worse than just vulgar threats and slashed tires.
#4

On February 8th, 2012 at 9:59 am, RedDog said:

Since public sector unions were authorized by executive order (Kennedy) they can be abolished the same way. Then the states can be encouraged to balance their budgets and hopefully eliminate the looming state and local pension crises directly caused by union bloat.
#5

On February 8th, 2012 at 10:06 am, babiesgrandma said:

I’m sure that it’s just coincidental that Trumpka visits the WH about 10 times a week, and the unions try to strong-arm everyone into paying union dues, without fear of retribution for using force and threats. Yeah, I don’t see a connection here at all…….
/sarc
#6

On February 8th, 2012 at 10:09 am, cheapseat said:

1) True professionals must prove their competency through licensing testing. Teachers don’t because they can’t.
2) True professionals don’t have tenure, where they can be child molesters and still retain their right to teach.
3) Union trailer trash has other smarter people do their negotiating for them and in the case of the public “service” unions, they bribe the opposing negotiators so even the union negotiators don’t have to be that sharp.
4) How in just 50 years did this country go from being the best educated, most productive, capable of feeding the world and defeating the world’s militaries to a nation where we owe more than our GDP, and our students don’t know how many states are in the country, and which countries border this nation.

OH YEAH, COMMUNISM IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, COMMUNISM IN THE LABOR FORCE, COMMUNISM IN THE GOVERNMENT, AND ANY PRODUCTIVE INVESTERS LEAVING THIS MESS BEHIND.
#7

On February 8th, 2012 at 10:20 am, doriangrey said:

Also on Capitol Hill Boehner prepares to sell out to Obama…. Again. Can we impeach John Boenher?

Speaker John Boehnor and Congressman Darryl Issa conspire to betray America.
#8

On February 8th, 2012 at 10:32 am, Paratus said:

These guys and women testifying, should keep their heads up and their eyes open. The unions have a way of dealing with
“malcontents”.
#9

On February 8th, 2012 at 10:36 am, DanMan said:

Today the mayor and city council of Houston will openly discuss the options they are considering to close the 277% of current revenue unfunded pension liabilities that have developed over the last decade. Our mayor has been there since it started.

The place will be packed with fire, police and SEIU backed municipal union members screaming for justice while we’re at work.

We’re not represented.
#10

On February 8th, 2012 at 10:42 am, happyscrapper said:

A close tie between the unions and the POTUS. What can possibly go wrong?

Another reason why four more years of Obama would be the end of us. He is now trying to placate and FOOL the American People to get elected. If he is re-elected, he is will take the gloves off.

And, just look at the states that have fought the unions. Wisconsin is trying to recall the Governor and might just succeed, even though he has already balanced their budget. Apparently, fiscal solvency is not as important to union members as their big salaries and pensions. There there is Mitch Daniels and the success he has had getting “Right to Work”. Now, they are trying to FIRE him too. Let’s see, the majority of the people vote in a Republican who succeeds in saving the state from bankruptcy, and the unions try to kick him out. What is wrong with that picture?

The unions MUST be taken down to a manageable size!! They have WAY too much power for a democratic republic!
#11

On February 8th, 2012 at 10:51 am, Truesoldier said:

What I would love to see stopped is the automatic payroll deduction of union dues. There is no reason that the taxpayer should be footing the bill for dues collections. Not to mention, I am sure more union members would be ticked off if they actually had to write a check to the union each month.
#12

On February 8th, 2012 at 10:53 am, drbulb said:

How in just 50 years did this country go from being the best educated, most productive, capable of feeding the world and defeating the world’s militaries to a nation where we owe more than our GDP, and our ~~students~~ PRESIDENT ~~don’t~~ doesn’t know how many states are in the country, and which countries border this nation.

You can thank the democrat socialist party…
#13

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:07 am, Mostly Annoyed said:

It doesn’t surprise me that the Obama administration has allowed mandatory membership in a political organization, which is what most unions are now. It does sicken me every time I think about it. It also sickens me that unions are tax exempt, although they are required to pay taxes on dues used for political activities. I looked for SEIU’s financial statments but it appears they have a problem filing them, but in 2009 the Wisconsin SEIU engaged in no political activities according to their 990. I suspect an audit would cause all the SEIU organizations to loose their non-profit status, but it will never happen under Obama.
#14

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:08 am, Pat said:

The Nat’l RTW foundation helped us sue CA years ago when Jerry Brown I signed in the forced dues payments. We won, of course. The union spent 80% of the dues on campaign donations laundered through many other PACs and bigger unions. The union still makes everyone sue who objects to the forced dues. Funny how Brown is back in to oversee the destruction his law has caused.

Stand up and fight. There are people who will help.
#15

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:08 am, hawkeye54 said:

Not to mention, I am sure more union members would be ticked off if they actually had to write a check to the union each month.

True that. The unions have devolved into organizations existing mainly to preserve the lifestyles of their leadership and unsustainable benefits for many of its members.
#16

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:10 am, hawkeye54 said:

These guys and women testifying, should keep their heads up and their eyes open. The unions have a way of dealing with
“malcontents”.

Like turning on the mafia.
#17

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:16 am, plymouthacclaim said:

Union leadership is just as corrupt as they claim “management” is.
#18

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:23 am, JHSII said:

…sigh… More people for the Federal Witness Protection Program…
#19

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:26 am, Pasadena Phil said:

That’s not the only ridiculous thing going on in Congress today. The Rise of the Machines. Can “terminators” be far behind? Is there anyone in Congress defending our constitutional rights? It’s not the terrorists that are the biggest threat but our very own government.
#20

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:37 am, NavyGal said:

I don’t remember where I saw this bit of information (it was on a reputable blog) but the pension funds for union management is about 98% funded while the pension fund for all of the rest of the union membership is only around 50% funded. The numbers may not be exactly right, but obviously the union management (oxymoron?) cares only for themselves.
#21

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:41 am, hawkeye54 said:

the pension funds for union management is about 98% funded while the pension fund for all of the rest of the union membership is only around 50% funded

Most likely that is correct. Union management makes sure it never suffers. Ever see them take financial hits during strikes? Nope. Sitting pretty on union dues. Always, with leftists, making out great on someone else’s money.
#22

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:43 am, tonyr951 said:

Server working so slow a Union must be running it
#23

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:43 am, Truesoldier said:

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:08 am, hawkeye54 said:
The unions have devolved into organizations existing mainly to preserve the lifestyles of their leadership and unsustainable benefits for many of its members.

And here is a story highlighting just that:

Teachers Union Staffers Set Sail on 7-Day Caribbean Cruise
#24

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:54 am, NJ-Aviator said:

Isn’t it ironic that the democrats, who are socialists and communists, are called “democrats” ???

I wish they would adhere to truth-in-advertising and change their party name to match their ideology.
#25

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:56 am, Pasadena Phil said:

Heh heh heh. Even Robert Reich has noticed. I wonder if he noticed that it largely the same super rich picking Rombama as the alternative?
#26

On February 8th, 2012 at 12:02 pm, AlohaGuy said:

babiesgrandma said:

I’m sure that it’s just coincidental that Trumpka visits the WH about 10 times a week, and the unions try to strong-arm everyone into paying union dues, without fear of retribution for using force and threats. Yeah, I don’t see a connection here at all…….
/sarc

I believe you are insinuating that there is something corrupt in play. Have you ever thought that maybe Obama is lonely since Reggie Love and Kal Penn left and Trumpka fills that void?

(I never use the /sarc tag – my sarcasm for Obama never ends…)
#27

On February 8th, 2012 at 12:03 pm, Truesoldier said:

On February 8th, 2012 at 11:54 am, NJ-Aviator said:
Isn’t it ironic that the democrats, who are socialists and communists, are called “democrats” ???

I wish they would adhere to truth-in-advertising and change their party name to match their ideology.

In some ways they are. They figure if they can get a majority of Americans hooked on government programs then the majority will keep them in power forever. That is there idea of Democracy in action.
#28

On February 8th, 2012 at 12:04 pm, Mister P said:

I had and interesting talk with my uncle (a life long Democrat and Teamster). He said that all his union friends are voting Republican. He sees the corrupt union bosses married to a corrupt president and knows what that means. My brother also is forced into the teachers union and is a tea partier. He sees the worst teachers most politically active for the democrat masters. They want to keep those pensions that they can receive at 55 that provides them with full pay. It takes a tea partier to put the kids first.
#29

On February 8th, 2012 at 12:06 pm, Truesoldier said:

On February 8th, 2012 at 12:02 pm, AlohaGuy said:
I believe you are insinuating that there is something corrupt in play. Have you ever thought that maybe Obama is lonely since Reggie Love and Kal Penn left and Trumpka fills that void?

Exaclty. Maybe Obama was looking for Trumka for entertainment.
#30

On February 8th, 2012 at 12:24 pm, flameinhair said:

Anyone see the beating Fox news Mr. Lobertini and the cam-girl get? Nice huh? Mr. Lobertini is white and the attackers are black, so this that a ‘hate crime?’
Some of these ‘people’ need to be in jail.
The Unions of this country have become that which they hated. BULLIES one and all!
#31

On February 8th, 2012 at 2:10 pm, FirstSkirt said:

Some big shot Union boss was on Fox and Friends this morning talking about vouchers for parents who want to get their children out of failing schools. He said, “Life’s not fair” too bad, so sad. Then he said something about the schools weren’t failing, the parents were. What a galactically stupid union thug….they showed his salary as $500K.
#32

On February 8th, 2012 at 6:05 pm, gus said:

Oh settle down Cons. It’s not as if GOONIONS are special interests. It’s not as if they fund Obama and the OCCUPOOP movement.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
#33

On February 8th, 2012 at 9:32 pm, ChapBix said:

MM: “Kudos to Rep. Issa — and especially to the rank-and-file members speaking truth to union thug power.”

These brave souls just painted a bull’s eye on their backs.
#34

On February 8th, 2012 at 10:47 pm, ChapBix said:

#6. On February 8th, 2012 at 10:09 am, cheapseat said:

OH YEAH, COMMUNISM IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, COMMUNISM IN THE LABOR FORCE, COMMUNISM IN THE GOVERNMENT, AND ANY PRODUCTIVE INVESTERS LEAVING THIS MESS BEHIND.

That pretty much sums things up, which is why I dislike unions, especially the public sector variety.
#35

On February 9th, 2012 at 1:59 pm, Collateral Damage said:

The entirety of the Labor Board and every stinkin’ law regarding unions need to be revisited, and perhaps, completely REPEALED!?!
#36

On February 9th, 2012 at 2:57 pm, CO_Engineer said:

Unions are for the benefit of the union bosses, not the members. Many years ago I was a part time employee at a defense company while I was in College. The Teamsters came to me and said that my particular job description fell under them and I needed to join. I told them to pound sand. Six months later they were back with a bill for initiation fees and back dues and threatened to have me fired if I didn’t join. I argued for another 3 months and they finally said if I would join they would waive the initiation fee and back dues, but I would need to join- or they would have me fired. I signed, and the next paycheck they pulled 9 months back dues. When I reminded them of their agreement they said “be thankful we didn’t take the initiation fee as well, you’d owe us money instead of getting a paycheck”. Lie cheat and steal. The real irritating thing was- they insisted that I needed to join so I would have “representation”, but when I went to them 3 months later with a pay dispute, they told me it was not their concern. Shortly after that I graduated and was able to tell them where they could stick their union.

Another note- shop stewards are the lowest form of union life. The shop steward pay was split between the company and the union. Every time you went to him with a union question- he couldn’t help you because he was on the company clock. But when you went with a work question- he was on union clock. Meanwhile, all he ever really did was sell his gold jewelry. What a piece of work.