-Caveat Lector- conservativeinfo - Subscribe to the Conservative Information email list at http://conservativeinfo.listbot.com New Law Would Stop Forced Union Dues For Politics By Jim Burns CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer May 11, 2001 Harry Beck, the Oregon telephone repairman whose refusal to pay compulsory union dues led to a 1988 U.S. Supreme Court decision in his favor, told a House subcommittee Thursday that a new federal law is needed to stop such abuses. The law would prevent what is known as "closed shops," where workers are required to join a union as a condition of employment, in favor of "open shops" where workers have a choice of joining a union. Beck told the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections they can make a difference. "Before the House of Representatives again this year is a bill which can go a long way to freeing us from these abuses. The National Right to Work act finally would codify Beck," he said. Rep. Bob Goodlatte is sponsoring the "National Right To Work Act" this year. Goodlatte said his bill would restore the system of voluntary unionism that the founders of American labor unions originally intended. "Since the Wagner Act of 1935 made forced union dues a keystone of federal labor law, millions of American workers have been forced to pay for union 'representation' that they neither choose nor desire," said Goodlatte. "The National Right To Work Act reduces federal power over America's labor markets, promotes economic growth and a higher standard of living and enhances freedom," he added. "It is up to this honored body," Beck said, "to step forward with legislative care to release hardworking men and women from ever again being forced to pay servitude to union bosses in order to feed and clothe their families. We need your protection, and we need it now. Don't let this bill be watered down by liberal political correctness. How much longer do we have to wait? It's now up to you." The U.S. Supreme Court in 1988 ruled that objecting employees can reclaim compulsory union dues that are not used for collective bargaining activities, such as politics. Beck told the subcommittee he has nothing against anyone wanting to join a labor union, even though he didn't want to. "I believe anyone who wishes to join a labor union should have the unfettered right to do so. I believe union workers must be allowed to be engaged in union political activity, as an example of this country's belief in freedom of speech. However, the freedom of speech carries with it the freedom to express speech when it disagrees with union bosses," said Beck. Subcommittee Chairman Charles Norwood (R-Ga.) said the purpose of Thursday's hearing was oversight, meaning the subcommittee was ascertaining information from witnesses in order to craft future legislation. "Our oversight objective is very narrow and clear," Norwood said. "What are these workers complaining about? They say some unions disregard the limitations placed upon their conduct.. Simply, they claim that their unions are overreaching." Norwood added, "Based on the evidence I have seen, I am convinced that some union locals do, in fact, regularly trample on the rights of individuals in far excess of the scope of their permissible authority. What we learned from the Supreme Court in the Beck case is that often, more than 70 percent of these monies are used for purposes not associated with the union's collective bargaining related functions." However, Wendy Fields- Jacobs of the United Auto Workers organizing department, told the committee, her union has allowed their members to receive a rebate on their dues if they are used for political purposes. "For almost thirty years the UAW's constitution has allowed members who do not agree with the Union's political and legislative activities to receive a rebate of the portion of their dues use for these purposes. To receive this rebate, which amounts to only a small percentage of total dues, a member only has to send a letter to the Union's Secretary-Treasurer," said Fields-Jacobs. She added, "Historically, only a tiny number of members have objected to the use of their dues for political purposes and requested the rebate. This is because the vast majority of UAW members strongly support the participation of the Union in political and legislative activities. UAW members recognize that what the Union is able to achieve through collective bargaining is profoundly affected by decisions made in Washington and in state capitals across the country." Rep. Major Owens (D-N.Y.), the subcommittee's ranking Democrat, expressed similar sentiment. "Beck was decided in 1988. Since that decision, there have been less than 100 cases pending at the NLRB concerning Beck rights. In a single year, the NLRB issues more than 1,000 complaints alleging unlawful discharge of a worker by an employer. Yet, a worker has more protection to refuse to pay a few dollars a month to a union than the worker gets when he or she is fired for supporting the union. We have yet to hold a single hearing on the thousands of workers who are unlawfully discharged for trying to form a union," Owens said. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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