Posts tagged opt-out
Over 1 in 3 Illinois government workers reject AFSCME Council 31 membership
April 24, 2025 // The union claims to represent more than 90,000 state and local government employees in Illinois. Yet not even 60,000 of those workers are members of the union, according to the union’s annual LM-2 report to the federal government. That means more than 1 in 3 workers have rejected membership in the union that is supposedly representing their interests. It could be because just 21 cents of every dollar the union spends is on representing workers – what should be its core priority. It could be the millions of dollars AFSCME Council 31 spends on politics, or the exorbitant six-figure salaries it pays its bosses. And it could be the union’s questionable spending on restaurants and hotels.
Commentary: Is bill a state-led worker’s board, or a gift to SEIU?
April 7, 2025 // A secret ballot election for unionization requires a certain percentage of the bargaining unit to sign so-called “showing of interest” cards. When an organization allegedly has resorted to forgery is tasked with gathering and submitting these cards, it calls the integrity of the process into question. SB 1138 and HB 3838 present themselves as measures to improve workforce standards for care providers, but they have but one purpose — growing SEIU 503’s membership and influence. By embedding the union into training programs, handing it access to personal contact information and placing itself in workforce oversight, SEIU is positioned to grow its ranks at the expense of worker autonomy.
Third AT&T-BellSouth Worker Hits CWA Union With Federal Charges, Challenges Thousands in Illegal Strike Fines
March 30, 2025 // Henry Gonzalez, an employee of AT&T-BellSouth in Miami, has just hit the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union in his workplace with federal charges – the third worker to do so in just a month. Gonzalez’s charges, which were filed at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) with free legal aid from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, describe how CWA union officials are wrongfully targeting him with thousands of dollars in disciplinary fines for not participating in a strike.
NEW YORK: With A2593, unions are outsourcing their deceit to robots
March 27, 2025 // A2593, recently introduced in the New York State Assembly, would allow unions to make automated “robocalls” to public employees who’ve opted out of union membership. If the proposal sounds absurd, that’s because it’s a blatant attempt to preserve their fading influence by strongarming workers who have unequivocally expressed their wishes already. The bill claims to protect New Yorkers’ privacy; in reality, it would accomplish the polar opposite by granting government unions one of the few legal exceptions to make robocalls in the state.
Freedom Foundation Sues California Public Employment Relations Board
March 18, 2025 // “The Public Employment Relations Board is trampling on free speech and workers’ rights, all to protect union interests,” said Freedom Foundation CEO Aaron Withe. “By enforcing these unconstitutional statutes, they are silencing the Shasta County Board and preventing public employees from receiving crucial information about their rights.” “These laws do a real disservice to public employees, forcing them to rely solely on unions for information that the unions have no intention of providing,” said Freedom Foundation Litigation Counsel Ravi Prasad. “Workers deserve the truth about their options. But these statutes ensure that workers only hear unions’ perspectives on the merits of union membership, while silencing any public employer who disagrees. This is textbook viewpoint discrimination.”
Second AT&T BellSouth Worker Hits CWA Union With Federal Charges for Illegally Seizing Worker Money
March 18, 2025 // Marc’s charges contend that while federal labor law permits dues deduction authorization documents to be irrevocable for one year after employees initially sign them, any further window periods or other restrictions on workers’ legally-protected right to cut off dues after that period has elapsed violate the National Labor Relations Act:
Op-ed: Priorities for Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer
March 11, 2025 // These reforms align with President Trump’s bold vision, exemplified by the reinstatement of Schedule F, to enhance accountability and performance in the federal workforce. They are not just about efficiency-they are about empowering federal employees to thrive while delivering exceptional service to Americans. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has a chance to lead with principle, prioritizing worker autonomy over union influence. The time to act is now. On behalf of Americans for Fair Treatment, I stand ready to support her in unleashing the full potential of our federal workforce.
Opting Out: Public Employees Speak Out
March 3, 2025 // Not only did the deductions continue after her promotion, but she also discovered that she was now being charged for contributions to SEIU 503’s political action committee (PAC) —something she never agreed to. At this point, it was no longer just about the money; it was about principle. She had explicitly opted out, but SEIU 503 ignored her request, gave her false information and then enrolled her in additional dues categories without her permission. To make matters worse, when she contacted her payroll department for help, they told her it wasn’t their problem and directed her back to SEIU 503 — without even providing contact information.
Civil Service Commission considers one-time authorization requirement for dues deductions
February 4, 2025 // A change would mean “using the power of government to reduce the rights of employees and give more funding to unions,” Bolger said in a phone interview with Michigan Capitol Confidential. “That’s backward. Employees should be empowered. Individual rights should be elevated. And we shouldn’t be using the power of government to favor big special interests, which is what this proposal would do.”
Opinion: Six Ways to Hold Government Unions Accountable
January 10, 2025 // For generations, government unions have existed for their members to be organized and have a seat at negotiating tables. But for too long, the influence of those public employee unions has been less about negotiating raises and sick leave and more about funneling taxpayer dollars and volunteers toward partisan political activity that almost exclusively benefits the Left. Government unions should re-focus their energy and resources on their intended purpose: working on behalf of public-sector employees so those workers can do the job the American people hired them to do.