Read more at LaborPains.org
Political Action Committees (PAC)
Unions typically use PACs to make "hard money" contributions to specific candidates they support. Each PAC can donate up to $5,000 per candidate per election. PACs are highly regulated under the Federal Election Commission.
Total Given: $ 3,510,500
Source: 2003-2004 Federal Election Commission PAC data.
|
527 Money In most cases, unions use 527 organizations to make unlimited "soft money" donations to campaigns or candidates they support. Unlike PACs, 527 organizations do not coordinate with specific candidates, and as a result, are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission.
 [show all funds]Source: Internal Revenue Service 527 electronic form 8872 filings | |
Lobbying Money Unions often employ lobbyists to influence legislation in their favor. The amount below represents total lobbying expenditures reported to the Senate. It does not represent the total amount spent lobbying federal, state, and local officials. Total Senate Lobbying Expenditures: $ 1,560,000 (from 1998 to 2004) [show all lobbying expenditures] Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Records |
|
Unfair Labor Practices The National Labor Relations Board investigates instances of union violations of the National Labor Relations Act and other labor laws. Unfair Labor Practices include instances of bad faith bargaining, excessive dues, violence, threats and many other violations. | |
Source: National Labor Relations Board's Case Activity Tracking (CATS) database | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unionization Elections
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) oversees union representation elections, or "R Cases." To call an election, 30 percent of affected employees are required to sign a petition for an election. Elections can be used to both certify and decertify union representation. Increasingly, unions are avoiding the NLRB election process, instead opting for "Card Check" unionization.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) oversees union representation elections, or "R Cases." To call an election, 30 percent of affected employees are required to sign a petition for an election. Elections can be used to both certify and decertify union representation. Increasingly, unions are avoiding the NLRB election process, instead opting for "Card Check" unionization.
|
Decertification Elections Union members unhappy with their current union can opt to decertify it as their exclusive bargaining representative. These are known as "RD" cases. Decertification Petitions Filed: 91 [see decertifications] Source: National Labor Relations Board's Case Activity Tracking (CATS) database |
|
Elections Records Despite the commonly held belief that most workers would like to join a union, union representation elections—also known as "RC Cases"—often fail. Certification Elections since 2000
|