The Wall Street Journal reports that while most attention has been given to the large spending initiatives by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other pro-Republican groups, the public-sector union American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, is “now the biggest outside spender of the 2010 elections” and is spending $87.5 million to boost Democratic candidates. Said the head of AFSCME’s political operations: “We’re the big dog. But we don’t like to brag.”
This $87.5 million is mostly money spent from the general treasury of the union. Just a small piece, perhaps 10%, is in the form of political action committee donations that are voluntary to union members. The bulk of Big Labor’s dough comes from dues and fees money collected from workers who may or may not agree with the union bosses choices of issues and candidates. Unlike others who have to request their political contributions, the AFSCME and other unions are fueled by a never ending stream of mandatory forced dues money.
OAPSE/AFSCME union officials misled Southwest Public Schools employee Richard Koch and ignored revocation request in attempt to deduct dues for entire school year over employee’s clear objection
A recent poll conducted by SurveyUSA, a national pollster rated “A” by polling aggregation site FiveThirtyEight, reveals Michiganders of all backgrounds strongly oppose overturning the state’s Right to Work law.
Lucas County Job and Family Services employees exercised their constitutional right to stop funding AFSCME union activities, but union-imposed restriction blocks this for over 90% of the year