What Powers Union Politics? Dues Money

Originally published by The Wall Street Journal.

That big-labor bosses favor Democratic candidates isn’t news, but some unionized workers might be interested—and startled—to learn how much of their dues money is going to politics. A new report from the Commonwealth Foundation says that four big public-worker unions spent more on elections and political causes in 2023–24 than on representing their members.

The four government labor giants analyzed by the report are the National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). In 2023–24 they spent some $750 million on federal elections and political groups, according to the report, 86% of it from member dues. They reported using only $642 million for “representational activities,” which are related to organizing or job actions, the authors say.

It’s a notable finding because many unions also have political action committees, or PACs, toward which workers may voluntarily choose, or not, to contribute. The report includes examples of union membership forms with separate check boxes for that purpose, such as one from an AFSCME council that has a signature line for joining the union and another for donating to “pro-worker candidates.”

Read more at The Wall Street Journal.