99% of Union Donations Go to Leftist Causes and Candidates
The Employee Rights Act would give spending power back to union members instead of the bosses.
From 2012 through 2016, labor unions donated roughly $765 million to political causes and groups, and a staggering 99% of those donations went to leftist political causes or candidates. Luka Ladan, communications director for the Center for Union Facts, stated, “For years, labor unions have hijacked member dues to fund Planned Parenthood, Emily’s List and other pro-abortion groups. Yet many union members oppose the abortion lobby. The Employee Rights Act would require union officials to obtain permission before spending dues dollars on left-wing political advocacy.”
For example, in 2007 alone, labor unions donated $1.8 million to Planned Parenthood, $810,000 to Emily’s Choice and $45,000 to NARAL Pro-Choice America. Often a majority of union members do not know that their dues are funding the abortion lobby. “Big Labor doesn’t really want to publicize it,” Ladan said. Public unions are hardly better. In fact, the Supreme Court will soon hear a case involving their political contributions.
Recognizing the massive imbalance in union spending on leftist political causes, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale stated in July, “We may have gotten too close to one party. We should be for people who are for us, regardless of party label.”
Now there’s a novel concept, considering that roughly 40% of union household members vote Republican.
The Employee Rights Act, introduced in the House this past May, seeks to stop current unfair labor union practices by enabling workers the freedom to select or refrain from union representation, as well as require union officials to obtain permission from members before spending dues on causes they may oppose. There’s a reason why unions have steadily lost membership, much of it having to do with the fact that union leadership for years has been using member dues as slush funds for Democrats and leftist politics rather than truly advocating for workers’ rights. Hopefully, the Employee Rights Act passes, giving not only workers more choice in accepting union representation, but also giving union members the power to choose those political causes they wish to support.
(Edited.)
