A new report from the National Institute for Labor Relations Research said that Big Labor spent $1.8 billion for election activities in the 2020 election cycle, the majority of which came directly from paychecks of workers who had no choice in donations.
Big Labor Bosses Spent $1.8 Billion in 2020 Election, Demand End to Right to Work https://t.co/ksjv1u5jBt
— National Right to Work Committee (@Right2Work) July 25, 2021
“As union officials’ own reports demonstrate,the single largest source of union political expenditures are union general treasury funds, whose revenue comes largely from rank-and-file workers’ paychecks,,” said the NILRR. “That includes dues and fees paid by millions of workers who would be fired if they refused to pay.”
The study said that $1.4 billion came from general union treasuries that are part of automatic union dues, with the rest coming from state, local and federal political-action groups.
“Union bosses flood the American political system with money from their forced dues-stocked treasuries every election cycle, pursuing an agenda of even more coercive power over workers, even as the rank-and-file associate with them in near-record low numbers,” said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Committee.
The news comes as labor unions try to push legislation that would make it easier for unions to find more workers for their general fund.
The so-called PRO Act would nullify state right-to-work legislation that allows workers to opt out of union membership, thereby depriving unions of dues that go to political activity without the approval of workers.
“This far-reaching legislation is nothing more than an union boss wish list,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-NC, who opposed the bill prior to its passage in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the Associated Press.
Although the Demcrat-backed bill passed the House, it’s expected to have a tougher time in the U.S. Senate, where the Republicans technically are tied in the numbers of seats. Democrats, however, enjoy the majority with Vice President Kamala Harris voting as a tie-breaker.
Unions have vowed to oppose any legislators for reelection who refuse to support the PRO union legislation.
