Workers' Rights v. Unions

Recent News on Proposition 75-Paycheck Protection

Yesterday Governor Schwarzenegger endorsed Proposition 75, even after saying he was only going to work on his own Proposions. This Proposition will be on the ballot for the special elections scheduled for November 8, 2005. You may read about this in the SFGate.

The Landmark Legal Foundation is now asking the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to investigate the California Teachers Association (CTA). Apparently, the union is allegedly diverting special "debt retirement" assessment funds to use in campaign advertising against Proposition 75.

The union is said to use not just it's members dues, but the dues of those whom choose to work where, by law, they must pay union dues even though they do not belong to any union. In this case, these "dues" shall be used against the very people who paid them to defeat the right-to-work initiative. The Union has been known to spend millions of dollars preventing initiatives such as these. Nov. 8

Here is a sample of people from all spectums of the workforce and their opinions of their unions:

"Only union leaders would characterize my ability to make a choice as restrictive," said Allan Mansoor, member of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS). "In my line of work, if you take something without permission, it's called stealing."

"I am terribly disappointed that union leadership continues to use our dues against us," said Patti Armanini, former CTA member and teacher in the Ross Valley District. "We should not be forced to choose between retaining our rights and making political contributions."

"This is a workers rights issue," said Jim Galley, a San Diego union member of the Local 127 AFSCME AFL-CIO. "I find it ironic that union leaders who claim they are for workers rights want to take away my freedom of choice."

If you would care to become involved or help in any way, you may contact Californians for paycheck protection. Thank you, and have a nice day.