About 5.5 million public service union members in 22 states now have a choice to pay full union dues or not to join the union. The unions now have an unbelievable marketing tool to pick up individuals who are not members because of their different political views from the union leadership yet want to be represented by the union. When this happens to the non-governmental unions, there should be a growth in union membership.
If union organizations are smart, they would not lose but could gain membership that does not agree with the union leadership’s political beliefs. For instance, I don’t contribute to Planned Parenthood but I will give to faith-based groups for the same reasons as I have worked for non-union companies.
The union could still keep me by asking me to be represented to management for wages and benefits and reduce my dues by what is the union’s true political spending. I’m referring to a “stepped” dues schedule, one for those who are represented and agree with the political views of the union leaders or one that just represents me for wages and benefits as is the union’s first responsibility.
Why so negative about the Supreme Court decision about public sector unions? The decision appears to be written because of free speech, not to dissolve unions.
John Van Dalen
Everett
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