Thread: Unions diverted dues to ACORN

NEA and SEIU Diverted Forced Union Dues to Corrupt ACORN Offices
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 15:00 — Patrick Semmens

Most Freedom@Work readers are already aware of a growing scandal involving the pro-forced unionism Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN) in New York, Baltimore, Washington, and now, California. For those who missed it, ACORN representatives were caught on camera giving advice to undercover journalists on how to open an illegal brothel, launder its profits, and commit a host of other illegal activities.

According to The Washington Examiner, teacher union officials have contributed over 1.3 million dollars (in mostly forced union dues) to ACORN since 2005.

We decided to do a little digging into union financial disclosure forms on the Department of Labor's website. After examining union financial records, it turns out that officials of several high-profile unions diverted large sums of mostly forced union dues dollars to the same ACORN offices in Washington and New York that are implicated in the hidden camera scandal.

In 2008, for example, the AFL-CIO New York City Teacher Union gave a total of $406,730 to an ACORN office in Brooklyn that was later exposed by undercover journalists at Big Government. This contribution was classified under "representational activities," meaning it was funded by teachers forced to pay dues to teacher union bosses. In states without a Right to Work law like New York, employees who don't join unions can still be forced to pay union dues if union bosses acquire monopoly bargaining privileges.

The powerful Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has also made financial contributions to ACORN. In 2008, the SEIU transferred $12,500 to ACORN's Washington, DC office for "consulting fees and expenses." Once again, this was classified under "representational activities." The DC ACORN office is also implicated in the massive hidden camera scandal.

Finally, the NEA union hierarchy made its own significant financial contribution to ACORN in 2008. According to Department of Labor disclosure forms, the NEA bosses transferred $78,000 to ACORN's Brooklyn office.

Because only the 2008 union disclosure forms are easily searchable, these shady transactions may be the tip of the iceberg. But we shouldn't be surprised by the Big Labor-ACORN connection: after all, their organizational approaches and ideology are strikingly similar. In 2008, National Review's Stanley Kurtz described one of ACORN's favored "organizing" tactics:

Perhaps most mischievously, says Stern, Acorn uses banking regulations to pressure financial institutions into massive “donationsâ€

At this point in the economic mess, we realy do not need workers that barely get by paying union dues--or should I say unACORN dues. Were the union bosses doing this as a labor of love for the workers, rather than self-enrichment, that would be another story. Recently, unions have caused a few companies to bail into bankruptcy.
And even organizations that are not classified as unions get money by demanding membership. For a Realtor, you had to belong to the local Board of Realtors, which is the only way to get access to computerized multiple listings. The local board paid dues to the National Association of Realtors, which spends a lot of time lobbying. In my time in Fla. real estate, the two closest boards refused to disclose MLS listings unless you were a member. For the Ft. Myers Board it was about $400 annually, while the Naples board was over $800. And this was about 1992 or 1993, before the boom.

Vortex,

You are correct. Many different types of organizations collect dues or fees, so they can lobby our govt. and/or other entities. This doesn't make unions "bad". Especially since most union members don't consider they are "forced" to pay dues. They realize they get what they pay for. For good representation, a union needs financial clout. The dues are paid to run the union organization and this includes lobbing our elected representatives.

I never considered having a union, the root cause of any company declaring bankruptcy. Both parties sign the contract. Both parties agree to it. Both parties can revise it. Bankruptcy is usually the fault of bad management, period.

ex manager of union and non-union companies.

NEA Teachers Union members that are not happy with their union fees going to anti-christian political causes there is something you can do...
Labels: Education, Labor Unions, Petition, Religious Freedom
Also, see Teacher's Union part of the problem says some teachers and successful Charter bipartisan school system in Washington, DC.

Wallbuilders Live had this great episode on 11/17/2008

"David Barton, Rick Green and Brad Dacus discuss the social/cultural/political issues the NEA supports that have nothing to do with education or protecting teachers. Brad Dacus gives us a way to divert the money from union dues that goes toward pushing liberal political agendas and instead gives it to a charity of your choice. This program is a definite "must" for educators and union members across the nation who need to know where their money really goes."

"The "Choose Charity" project exists to help union members learn about and, if so inclined, exercise the important option of diverting the portion of union dues that go towards political lobbying for leftist groups."

http://www.valuesvoternews.com/2008/12/ ... e-not.html