I work in a right to work state (which has it's own issues) so we cannot be forced into a union, but I feel for my fellow conservative teachers who are. There are no other options for you? You can't direct your money to a conservative union or organization?
Gov. Chris Gregoire on Friday signed legislation allowing labor unions to spend nonmembers’ bargaining fees on political causes without first getting their permission.”
As you can see from the above paragraph, the issue in question is them using the BARGAINING fees on political causes.
The whole issue IS ABOUT the spending of non member dues.
And yes, we can direct PART of our dues to another place, but not all.
And, MY PART of the issue is that I cannot be part of my LOCAL Union without being part of the State (and ergo the NEA) Union.
And, since I LIKE my local union and HEARTILY support the officers whom I helped to elect, I swallow hard and stay IN.
Isn’t that and awful (non) choice?
The LOCAL takes 1% of my paycheck per YEAR...the state takes 1% per MONTH.
And, you cannot deduct it unless these expenditures (plus others) exceed 2% of your income.
So, I can’t even write it off.
Totally TICKS ME OFF!
So...yes, unions ARE prohibited from using union dues for campaigns.
And the union was even FINED for and ADMITTED to doing so.
Then that ruling was overturned and called “too much of an administrative burden for the union”!
WHAT?
So, I fully believe they will get slapped down by the USSC.
However, our Governor (if you read the 2nd link) has just said that it’s ok. They do not have to TELL US or ASK PERMISSION to use our $$$ for campaign purposes as long as their is enough money in the fund (which fund?) that they could be using the money of people who don’t care.
Since this just happened, I am not super familiar with how it works yet.
It could be that it is something I don’t object to.
But I will first need more info.
Isn’t it FRUSTRATING?!