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 Anybody for some more paperwork?
If you're one of those people who enjoys filling out redundant forms,
then Proposition 75 is for you!
It's just ridiculous. No one in California is required to join a
labor union. At most, members of a bargaining unit are required to pay
their share of the costs of union representation, but are specifically
exempted from having to fund unions' political activities. Unions must
keep meticulous records and have expensive external audits done annually
to determine precisely how much less is owed by those who request this
"reduced cost" status.
Despite having this option, many employees decide to join the union
that represents them. Members elect their leaders, vote on proposals,
and ultimately have the power to decide what their dues will be and how
to spend them (politics included). However, Proposition 75 requires
members of unions with at least one public-sector worker in them to also
fill out a form every year stating that they did, in fact, want to allow
some of their union money to be spent on politics. Give me a break!
Under 75, no other organizations that spend money in the political
arena will have to double-check with their members that it is OK to do
so. Shareholders of corporations will not need to fill out any such
forms, even though shareholders can't opt to purchase stock on a
"reduced cost" basis, and in some cases have no voting rights in
corporate policies. Yet, supporters of 75 pretend that those who chose
to join and participate in a union didn't really mean to contribute to
anything political—Heaven Forfend!!
I don't know if you are reading this before or after the results of
the Nov. 8 election are known, but if 75 is not defeated at the ballot
box, there may be hope to defeat it in the courts. For example, it
conflicts with federal labor policies, and unless there is a compelling
local interest in allowing deviation from them, judges may toss 75.
However, there will certainly be a mess in the meantime when it will be
unclear what the rules are for public sector unions.
And this may be the real intent of the proposition. Fighting and
simultaneously trying to comply with it will be a serious drain on our
resources, just as Schwarzenegger and his amen corner are winding up to
attack public sector pensions again. The success of public workers in
backing him off the initial attack last spring no doubt inspired him to
support 75, to increase his chances of success next spring. To maintain
our strength, we must do all in our power to fight this pernicious
proposition.
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