AIRAN SCRUBY
News Assistant
Government employee unions currently can use their members’ dues for political contributions to political parties, campaigns or candidates. Government workers who are not union members also pay fees to the unions because the unions negotiate the salaries and benefits of all workers in the field, not just their members.
Prop. 75 would require unions to get written permission from each worker before using that worker’s dues or nonmember fees for political contributions.
In addition, government employee unions would be required to submit a record of their political contributions to the California Fair Political Practices Commission.Those affected by the initiative would include firefighters, teachers, police and other government employees.
Those in favor of the measure say it will give freedom to union members. Opponents say the measure actually limits union members’ freedom, giving the upper hand in politics to large corporations that do not face restrictions under the initiative.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has endorsed Prop. 75, and other proponents have called the measure a step to strengthen public union employee members, giving them the right to choose how their money is spent.
The Californians for Paycheck Protection Web site outlined the case for the initiative. What supporters are calling the “Paycheck Protection Initiative” would give public employees choices by requiring annual written consent.
Government worker unions have made sizeable contributions to candidates in past elections. In the 2004 elections, 90 percent of union contributions were made to Democratic causes, while 40 percent of union members primarily voted for Republicans in these elections.
Those against the initiative are calling it the “Paycheck Deception Act.” Alliance for a Better California’s Web site calls the measure a deceptive attempt to take power away from government workers, leaving corporations with the power to push their candidates and agendas, while government employees are left without a voice.
While the measure would restrict government employee unions, it would do nothing to prevent companies from using shareholder’s money to support political causes and candidates.
The Alliance for a Better California also said Prop. 75 was designed to make it easy for the governor to cut spending without union oppositions, and that requiring unions to show records of political contributions robbed workers of their political privacy.
An estimated $40 million will be spent by those opposed to the measure, while $10 million will be spent by those in favor. The vote is expected to be a close race.
A vote for the initiative could mean major changes in the landscape of politics in California, as unions contribute so much to campaigns. In other states where similar measures have passed, union members who contribute have dropped drastically.
In Washington, teachers who were members of the union and contributed their dues to political causes dropped from 48,000 to about 8,000. In Utah, only 6.8 percent of teacher’s unions continued to contribute to political causes through the union.
11-03-2005