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Bill a direct attack on unions; Jeff Bullock; Beaver County Times; February 28, 2014.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“In Harrisburg, legislation has been proposed to prevent the automatic withholding of union dues from public employees’ paychecks. Sponsors of House Bill 1507 refer to this legislation as a ‘paycheck protection’ plan.”
[RWC] This could be a spammed letter. Mr. Bullock’s letter was also published on LancasterOnline on February 18th, in the Washington Observer-Reporter on February 20th, and in The News Item on February 28th.
“This legislation serves only to undermine the timely, efficient payment of monies which are rightfully due to the union. Automatic withholding is routinely used by employers to collect money owed for charitable contributions; for insurance premiums; for child support; and for taxes.”
[RWC] Deductions made “for charitable contributions; for insurance premiums” are voluntary choices made by the employee. Deductions made “for child support; and for taxes” are not. Likewise, union membership is an employment requirement – not a choice – for most government employees.
“By providing an orderly system of payment, automatic withholding benefits those who provide services—while protecting providers against deadbeat recipients—people who are willing to receive the services, but aren’t willing to pay the price for the services they receive.
“Union membership is truly a bargain—and everyone benefits. People who belong to a union. People who would like to belong to a union. And, yes, even people who don’t belong to a union benefit from a strong, viable system of labor—and labor protections.
“HB 1507 is a direct attack on the funding—and viability—of Pennsylvania’s well-established system of labor. A more accurate label for House Bill 1507 would be ‘The Deadbeat Protection Plan.’”
[RWC] You have to love Mr. Bullock’s view of union members and the union product. The employer must deduct union dues because union customers – the employees – are “deadbeats” and/or don’t see the value of the product they are forced to buy. Could you imagine any other business making that argument – and surviving?
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