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A Modern Day Jonah: When good people are swallowed whole by the SEIU…

You remember the story of Jonah, don’t you?  Well, Jonah was only trapped for three days…

[via the Chicago Daily Observer.]


It sort of makes you wonder how many thousands of other members are trapped inside the belly of the purple beast, doesn’t it?

For union members feeling trapped by their union bosses’ politics, we wrote on the topic here.

Unlike workers in Right-to-Work states who can stop paying a union entirely, most union members do not have that right because they live in states without Right to Work laws.  This fact leaves many union members frustrated because their dues are being used by union bosses for politicians and political causes the members may not agree with.

However, there are ways in which workers—even those who are required to pay a union as a condition of employment—can stop a union from using their dues money for politicians and political causes they do not support.  This process is known as union membersexercising their Beck Rights [named after union member Harry Beck, who successfully sued to stop having his dues money used for politics].

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a foundation that helps workers fight forced unionism (for free).  The NRTW has laid out an easy-to-read guide for unionized workers to understand their rights, as well as provides a sample letter for members to send their union to stop having their union dues used for politics.

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“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.” Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

Cross-posted

For more news and views on today’s unions, go to LaborUnionReport.com.

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COMMENTS

  • obladioblada

    We’re praying for him. Unions don’t tolerate dissension, I’m concerned about his well-being and that of this family. But he’s right, his true protection and welfare is provided from Above.

  • E Pluribus Unum

    I understand what danger he has exposed himself to, in the name of proclaiming the truth. Now we need more men and women of courage, who are enslaved by unions and union-friendly state laws, to stand with him..

  • GreyCloak

    I praise the guy for speaking his mind, but folks should follow up in a year or two.

    A neighbor had 18 years toward his Teamsters’ pension, but had to change shops when the company went out of business. Did the union transfer his earned benefits? NO … his new job was with another Local (of the same union), and he had put in ANOTHER twenty years to earn some benefit. And then, he died.

    Union members can aspire to Union leadership … but the “rank and file” just pay dues to support their executives and their political aspirations. Union members should be asking how much money their union has in a strike fund, versus how much they spend on politics in any given year. In particular (because I have certain knowledge in this area). union members might compare their health benefits to those of the union leadership.