Posted on 09/14/2015 1:49:58 AM PDT by markomalley
Republican presidential candidate and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker made a name for himself battling public-sector unions, and now he wants to take that fight to the federal level.
During a speech in Illinois Thursday, Walker said he would take on federal employee labor groups on his first day in office. His proposal would require the unions to disclose exactly what percentage of union dues are spent on political activity, and ban the automatic deduction from feds’ paychecks in a corresponding amount.
Walker said his plan was part of an effort to “wreak havoc on Washington” by transferring “power from the big government union bosses to the hardworking taxpayer,” according to the Associated Press.
One such labor leader, American Federation of Government Employees President J. David Cox, derided the proposal, noting union dues automatically withdrawn from federal paychecks do not go to supporting federal candidates. Those contributions instead come from optional donations from union members to the group.
Walker maintained his plan, which he is scheduled to unveil in full on Monday, would stop federal employees’ money from going to politicians or political activities they do not support. Unions can use mandatory dues to pay for certain political organizing.
However, while federal employees in unions are obligated to pay dues, their memberships are entirely voluntary. Unlike at the state and local level, federal unions cannot require collective bargaining units join the group by paying dues. Federal employee unions are allowed to maintain some members who collect a federal salary and work in federal offices while spending at least part of their work days conducting union business -- a practice known as official time -- because they must represent non-union members in negotiations.
The Supreme Court will in its next session hear a case challenging any public sector union’s ability to mandate dues payment.
“Union dues are used for negotiating with management on better working conditions, protecting employees from discrimination and retaliation in the workplace, and educating lawmakers and congressional staff from both sides of the aisle on issues of vital importance to employees,” Cox said.
He added it was “no surprise” Walker would launch an attack on federal unions, given his history.
Cox called the plan “a blatant political attack on federal employees and an attempt to wipe labor unions off the map.”
National Treasury Employees Union President Tony Reardon similarly called Walker’s plan unnecessary.
“Membership in federal employee unions is totally voluntary,” Reardon said. “There is no requirement for federal workers to join a union.”
Walker’s proposal does not go as far as measures put forward in the last Congress by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., which would have prohibited automatic deductions for union fees altogether. Cox said at the time that if enacted, those bills would severely disrupt AFGE’s primary source of funding.
While Walker's plan would likely receive a warm reception from many in Congress, he promised to avoid taking it to lawmakers altogether with his Day 1 proposal. The feasibility of such a maneuver would likely prove difficult, as unions’ dues collection procedures are codified in statute and collective bargaining agreements.
Walker made his proposal after dropping in recent weeks from frontrunner status to far below the top tier of contenders, according to recent polls.
Really .. he did pretty good with it in Wisc.
How about Walker tour the RED states and teach those Governors how to do the same.
The unions are really struggling to stay alive .. and now would be the perfect time to put them out of business forever.
Election is a long way off, seem to remember McCain and Romney polling very badly at about this point in their respective campaigns.
But I’ve got a minor question: Aren’t federal unions entirely enabled by a presidential executive order? And if so, why wouldn’t he start by removing that executive order? As for only deducting the amount that isn’t used for political action - I’m sorry, why is any employer the collector for the union? They can certainly incur their own costs in collecting their own dues. I understand that many businesses seem to be able to do that each and every month - gas, electric, cable, phone, loans...
I think he has a chance.
When this starts being called ‘a radical, right-wing idea,’ remind people what FDR wrote to the president of the National Federation of Federal Employees in 1937.
Yeah, he’s not my chosen candidate but writing anyone outside of the Graham/Gilmoure crowd off is foolish at this point.
I would like to see Scott as Secretary of Labor.
I don’t have anything specifically against him except to say that I like Cruz better and that I don’t mind Trump discombobulating the GOPe and liberals to the point of apoplexy.
The one thing I do wonder, however, is why did it take so long for this new plan. Weren’t his union busting efforts a signature platform in his state elections and governance? Why just now?
On the list of priorities that voters have I would imagine government unions is somewhere near the bottom. And this is what he's staking his campaign on? No wonder he's in single digits and dropping rapidly.
Bingo.
Anyone who can't see the irony in that has no sense of humor.
Agree good idea - but a secondary issue. First issue is to clear out the country of Illegals and add some restrictions on legal immigration. Unfortunately Walkers controllers REFUSE to allow him to take a strong position there...so game over for him, if he hasn’t figured it out yet.
Scott Walker reveeals his plan to deal with public sector unions on the federal level.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
You’re right.
Idon’t think that Trump could have the effect he does if the GOP wasn’t such a pathetic, moribund excuse for a politicalparty!!
If I’m remembering correctly, Walker’s plan is to take the power away from the Feds so each State can decide if it wants public sector unions or not.
That seems to be his plan for everything - give the POWER back to the STATES where it BELONGS. Works for me! :)
same thing with our federal government itself. If there were no payroll deduction for the illegal wage tax. there would be no leviathan. Revenue neutral tax reform. all taxes are paid via invoice from the government no payroll deductions for any of it.
If Walker wants to give power to the states, he’ll try to eliminate all spending that violates the 10th Amendment, including the Departments of Education, HHS, and HUD.
Given a WIN, some TIME and the Bully Pulpit, he could!
Hell, we ALL could, LOL! :)
Kennedy gave them collective bargaining with an executive order and an executive order can do away with the fed union.
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