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Press Release Published: Apr 4, 2012

Oversight Launches ProtectingOurWorkers.com

Whistleblower Platform Listens Directly to Rank-And-File Union Workers to Deliver Accountability for Forced Political Contributions

WASHINGTON, DC – The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today launched ProtectingOurWorkers.com to listen directly to American union workers about forced political contributions and to continue its efforts to hold both government and union leaders accountable to the rank-and-file whose hard-earned dues are funding partisan political activity they don’t support.  As a result of information received from whistleblowers, Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) today sent six letters to union leaders and government agencies following up on the testimony of Sally Coomer (SEIU), Terry Bowman (UAW) and Claire Waites (NEA), rank-and-file union members who reported that their rights are being violated by union leaders’ use of member dues for political activity they do not support.  The letters were sent to the National Education Association, Alabama Education Association, Service Employees International Union, United Auto Workers, Federal Election Commission and National Labor Relations Board.
 

“Every worker should have the choice to decide whether their money is taken from their paychecks and used to fund political activity,” Chairman Issa said.  “At ProtectingOurWorkers.com, we’re listening to hard-working rank-and-file union members speaking out about how forced political contributions violate their fundamental rights, and holding union leaders and government accountable to taxpayers.”
ProtectingOurWorkers.com asks a simple question: “Have you been forced to donate time or money to partisan union politics you oppose?”  Because many workers are not informed of their rights by government or union leaders, the site contains important resources to download, print and share, helping educate rank-and-file union members about their Constitutionally-protected rights.  It supports a dialogue between the Committee and taxpayers about worker rights, while sharing information about the Committee’s work and the personal stories of rank-and-file union members who have already spoken out against forced political contributions.

“Now more than ever, workers have a right to know that the money government and union leaders take from them is well spent,” Issa added.  “We expect both union and government leaders to be fully responsive to the committee’s questions and to the Americans who deserve leadership that works for them.”
 

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