Studies
Fair share fees: not so fair Paycheck Protection Study | November 13, 2002 Despite claims of democracy and volunteerism, officials of the National Education Association (NEA) have candidly acknowledged that the union depends on the ability to collect membership dues through mandatory payroll deduction. Given the choice, many educators would not join the union. That is why union officials try to negotiate contracts that allow them to collect mandatory fees from members and non-members alike. Are these fees fair and accurate? Experience shows they are not and many teachers are working under contracts that deny them the right to exercise free speech and enjoy true representation of their best interests...more
Taking Employee Wages To Hijack Elections, Update Analysis of 2000 Election | May 2001 Read EFF's latest research on how labor unions impacted Washington state's 2000 elections. This is an update for our more extensive study published in June 2000 (link below).
Taking Employee Wages To Hijack Elections Analysis of 1998 Election | June 2000 Union officials exercise massive influence over elections in Washington state and elsewhere by strong-arming their members. EFF and Washington voters agree that workers have the right to free speech. Washington state law says that free speech does not end at the ballot box: Workers have the right to decide if and when they will contribute to political campaigns. So why do union officials ignore workers’ rights and do whatever it takes to undermine voter-approved law? EFF’s latest study examines tactics used by union bosses to undermine political free speech rights, and how their tactics impact election results and public policy.
Collective Bargaining in Public Schools: Turning the Focus to Students May 2000 The majority of education funds in the average school district in Washington state is spent to meet the demands of collectively bargained contracts. Large districts negotiate a dozen or more contracts with employee groups. What is in these contracts and do they facilitate or frustrate the ability to offer each student in our public school system the best possible educational opportunity? Do these contracts enhance or erode the professional satisfaction of teachers? This study attempts to answer these questions.
