Legislation proposed in the US Senate would bar unions from using members’ dues to support positions deemed to be promoting antisemitism and other hateful ideologies without their consent.
It comes after some unions have been accused of backing resolutions that critics slammed as demonizing Israel and supporting Hamas following the terror group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on the Jewish state and the subsequent war in Gaza.
“The purpose of a union is to represent their members, not force them to fund extreme political agendas against their will,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Cassidy’s bill would amend current law so workers have to “opt in” to paying for any union activities not related to collective bargaining.
The Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, part of Local 2325 of the United Auto Workers, approved a resolution last December that calls for an economic boycott of Israel for its “occupation” of land populated by Palestinians.
But roughly one-third of the union members — many Jewish — objected to the resolution.
The lawyers’ employer, the Legal Aid Society, slammed the resolution as “laden with coded antisemitic language and thinly veiled calls for the destruction of the State of Israel.”
Under a court ruling (Communications Workers v. Beck), union members have a right to opt out of their dues going to activities not related to collective bargaining — including organizing other workplaces, lobbying and political contributions.
In addition, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act allows employees not to pay dues or fees to a union based on their religious beliefs or practices.
But Cassidy said many workers were unaware they have the right to pull their union dues from activities that have nothing to do with union bargaining for salaries and benefits.
As part of the Senate committee’s probe into antisemitism, the senator also found that unions make it difficult to opt out of these unrelated costs — including bogging down workers with lawsuits that end up costing more than the actual dues.
“Union members pay unions to represent before management. This legislation keeps unions focused on that,” said Cassidy.
The legislation states that unions can’t impose dues on any member for purposes unrelated to collective bargaining unless the member approves such expenditure 35 days in advance.
Unions would have to ask for a member’s authorization to use dues for political purposes every year.
The legislation could face an uphill climb in the Democrat-controlled Senate, where Big Labor wields influence and may raise free speech concerns or claim interference in union affairs.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who chairs the labor committee, had no immediate comment.
The AFL-CIO declined comment.
