The video above was produced by the unions to fight the paycheck protection measure 226 in 1998
Everyone agrees that California needs reform to make it governable. And there is much debate over what reforms are needed. But, there can be no meaningful reform until we first limit the corrupting influence of the overpowerful public sector unions that are bankrupting California. This means passing effective Paycheck Protection laws to stop these unions from using taxpayer dollars to gain more taxpayer dollars. Some OC activists are taking the lead to help pass this fundamental and essential reform.
California’s overpowerful public sector unions are a corrupting influence on state government. As we’ve noted, these unions have become “the New Tammany Hall, a corrupt government worker union machine that buys and controls votes. Unlike private sector unions, government worker unions are able to sit at both sides of the bargaining table by electing the politicians who control their pay. In the 2008 election cycle, the SEIU (alone) spent $42.4 million in independent expenditures on top of $73 million in labor contributions.”
The overpowerful public sector unions are bankrupting California. They have used their corrupt bargaining position and political power to gain better compensation, job security, health benefits, and pensions than private sector workers. The recent attempt to spike MWD pensions, on the heels of a 20% rate increase, is but one example. California’s “too big to fail” pension fund, CALPERS, puts “Californian taxpayer … on the hook if CALPERS cannot pay out the avalanche of promises to California’s state workers.”
We must pass effective Paycheck Protection laws to stop these unions from using taxpayer dollars to gain more taxpayer dollars. Paycheck Protection limits unions ability to spend member dues on political activity without their consent. (The Supreme Court has held that union members have the right to prohibit unions from using their dues for functions unrelated to collective bargaining.) While this will help, effective Paycheck Protection must go further by leveling the playing field between public sector union members and the public who employs them.
Paycheck Protection must permit the state (or any political subdivision thereof) to withhold union dues from state worker pay only for functions related to collective bargaining. Public sector unions must be absolutely prohibited from spending member dues for political purposes (subject to the threat of criminal sanctions).
This would not be an unconstitutional abridgment of the free speech rights of public sector workers. The Supreme Court has held that political speech may be limited to prevent corruption or the appearance of corruption. Public sector unions have created a powerful appearance of corruption. Yet, this law would not unduly burden state workers’ free speech rights. They would be free to donate money to their union or any political cause. This law would level the playing field, subjecting state workers and their unions to the same political campaign finance limits and reporting requirements as private individuals, businesses, and organizations.
OC activists are taking the lead to put Paycheck Protection on the 2010 ballot. Hopefully, they will draft an effective Paycheck Protection initiative. These unions spent $100 million to defeat reform in 2005. (This money came from taxpayers pockets.) If Californians want reform then they must pass effective Paycheck Protection. There can be no meaningful California reform until the overpowerful public sector unions are dethroned.
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