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PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNION DUES. RESTRICTIONS ON POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. EMPLOYEE CONSENT REQUIREMENT.
Initiative Statute

QUESTION

Should public employee unions be required to obtain annual written consent from each member in order to use a portion of that member's dues for political activity?

BACKGROUND

Unions for Government Employees. Groups of government employees--like employees in the private sector-can choose to have a union represent them in negotiations with their employers over salaries, benefits, and other conditions of employment. Individual government employees may choose whether or not to join the union that represents their group of employees. A union's negotiations affect all employees in the group-both members and nonmembers of the union. As a result, members of the group--whether they join a union or not-typically pay a certain level of dues and/or fees to a union for these bargaining and representation services.

Use of Union Dues or Fees for Political Purposes. A union of government employees may engage in other types of activities unrelated to bargaining and representation. For instance, public employee unions may decide to charge additional dues for various political purposes, including supporting and opposing political candidates and issues. Any fees collected from a nonmember of a union cannot be used for these types of political purposes if the nonmember objects. Each year, unions must publicly report what share of their expenditures was for political purposes.

PROPOSAL

This measure amends state statutes to require public employee unions to get annual, written consent from a government employee in order to charge and use that employee's dues or fees for political purposes. This requirement would apply to both members and nonmembers of a union. The measure would also require unions to keep certain records, including copies of any consent forms.

FISCAL EFFECT

The state and local governments could experience some increased costs to implement and enforce the consent requirements of the measure. The amount of these costs is probably minor. Some of these costs could be partially offset by increased fines for not complying with the measure's provisions and/or fees charged by government agencies to cover the costs of processing payroll deductions for union dues and fees.

WHAT A YES OR NO VOTE MEANS

A YES vote means that public employee unions must annually obtain a signed consent form from each member in order to use any of that member's dues for political activity.

A NO vote means that public employee unions may continue to use a portion of a member's annual dues for political activity without the member's express consent.

SUPPORTERS SAY

• It is unfair for unions to use a member's dues money to support political causes with which the member may not agree.
• Unions have increased dues and spent millions of dollars to fund political campaigns without a vote of the membership.
• In other states where union members are explicitly given the choice of declining to support their union's political activity, many do so.
• This initiative does not prohibit unions from collecting political contributions, but requires that the contributions be voluntary instead of mandatory.

OPPONENTS SAY

• Instead of protecting the rights of teachers, nurses, and firefighters, this measure will make it harder to obtain fair wages, fair hours, and health care.
• Corporations significantly outspend labor prior to elections.
• Without political activity by unions, voters would not hear both sides of many issues.
• Any requirement that those affected must annually consent to use of their money for political purposes should apply to corporate stockholders as well as to union members.

SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION

Official ballot arguments in support are signed by Milton Friedman, Nobel Prize Winner; Lewis Uhler, President, National Taxpayer Limitation Committee; Allan Mansoor, Member of Association of Orange

County Deputy Sheriffs; James Galley, Past Vice President, AFSCME/AFL-CIO, Local 127; Archie Caughell, Member, Service Employees International Union; and Pamela Smith, Member, California Teachers Association.

Official ballot arguments in opposition are signed by Lou Paulson, President, California Professional Firefighters; Barbara Kerr, President, California Teachers Association; Sandra Marques, RN, Local President, United Nurses Associations of California; Lieutenant Ron Cottingham, President, Peace Officer's Research Association of California; Mary Bergan, President, California Federation of Teachers; and Deborah Burger, President, California Nurses Association.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Supporters

Californians for Paycheck Protection, (916) 927-1512, www.caforpaycheckprotection.com.

Opponents

Alliance for a Better California, (916) 492-1962, www.betterca.com.