This Labor Day, as union bosses rush for face time to show they “stand with workers,” why have 93 percent of private-sector workers chosen not to stand with a union?
Perhaps more workers are refusing to affiliate with unions because union boss political activism takes precedence over protecting worker rights.
Even as private-sector voluntary union membership continues to steadily decline, an analysis published recently found that union officials spent $1.7 billion on politicking and lobbying during the last election cycle.
And why not? This political machine enables union bosses to wield an immense amount of political clout. In fact, modern unions are built on their government-granted legal privileges of compulsion and extortion.
As president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, I know that in the 26 states without Right to Work laws (including Washington), employees can be fired for refusing to pay union dues. So why should union officials bother with the hard work of representing employees if they’re sitting on a revenue stream guaranteed by the government?
Workers are waking up to the fact that this flood of cash also breeds extravagance, abuse, and corruption. Poll after poll shows the American people, and even union members, overwhelmingly oppose forced union dues and affiliation.
This Labor Day, union officials should take a step back and re-examine why millions of American workers want nothing to do with them.
Here’s a hint: look in the mirror.
Mark Mix
Springfield, Va.
