OPPOSING BILL HB 2986

THE TEXAS AFL-CIO IS INFORMING US OF BILLS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED FOR PASSAGE. PLEASE READ BELOW AND CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES & SENATORS.

PLEASE HELP OPPOSE HB 2986, A BILL BY REPRESENTATIVE TAN PARKER, R-FLOWER-MOUND, THAT WOULD MUZZLE LABOR UNIONS WHO WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL PROCESSES.

HB 2986 IS A PARTISAN, ONE-SIDED ATTACK THAT WOULD DENY UNIONS, BUT NOT CORPORATIONS OR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, THE RIGHT TO PROMOTE THE VIEWS OF WORKING FAMILIES IN THE POLITICAL ARENA. THE BILL WOULD FORCE UNIONS TO SPEND LARGE AMOUNTS OF DUES MONEY TO OBTAIN ANNUAL WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM MEMBERS TO ENGAGE IN OUR REGULAR BUSINESS. AND IT WOULD STOP TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FROM VOLUNTARILY ALLOCATING A PORTION OF THEIR PAYCHECKS TO A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

AS YOU KNOW, UNIONS USE NO DUES MONEY TO CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICAL CANDIDATES. THAT IS HANDLED THROUGH VOLUNTARY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES LIKE THE TEXAS AFL-CIO’S $250 COPE CLUB. BUT HB 2986 WOULD MAKE IT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO USE DUES MONEY TO LOBBY ANY GOVERNMENTAL BODY, INCLUDING THE LEGISLATURE, SCHOOL BOARDS AND CITY COUNCILS. HB 2986 WOULD STOP UNIONS FROM PUBLISHING A POLITICALLY-RELATED NEWSLETTER OR FLYER FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION WITH DUES MONEY AND WOULD EVEN PREVENT UNION MEMBERS FROM ATTENDING EVENTS WITH OFFICE-HOLDERS

STIFLING OUR VOICE IS NOT THE AMERICAN WAY. PLEASE TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR TO VOTE AGAINST HB 2986.