SEIU in Oregon: For the love of the…?
Gov. Ted Kulongoski of Oregon has nominated Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler to the position of State Treasurer, following the death of Ben Westlund on Sunday. Want to know why Wheeler, and not another state representative Greg Macpherson, got the nod? According to The Oregonian: “Kulongoski acknowledged that “part of it” was the opposition that Macpherson would [more...]

Posted Thu, 11 Mar 2010 .

Transparent Hypocrisy at the DOL
This morning the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) emailed me asking for comments and ideas “to help increase transparency, collaboration, and participation within DOL as part of the White House Open Government Initiative.” The OLMS is the same agency that just rescinded a regulation requiring transparency in union slush funds (using the “T-1″ form). In fact, [more...]

Posted Thu, 11 Mar 2010 .

State Of The Unions

Union officials claim to represent workers' interests. The numbers tell a different story. Here are some vital statistics to keep in mind:

Finances and Membership
Total Union Members in 2005:	15.7 million
Total Union Assets in 2004:	$15.7 billion

Union Officials and Staff
Total Union Officials and Staff in 2004:	175,000+
Total Union Officials and Staff Compensation in 2004:	$3.7 billion

Number of Union Officials and Staff Making More Than $75,000 in 2004:	13,875

Political Activity
Total Union Political Action Committees Registered in the 2004 cycle:	368
Union PAC Money Spent on Political Candidates (2003-2004):	$84.8 million

Diversity
Major Unions with White Presidents:	94%
Major Unions with Male Presidents:	95%

Discrimination
EEOC Discrimination Charges Filed Against Unions since 2000:	13,815
Fines Paid Resulting From EEOC Charges:	$6 million

Crime, Corruption, and Violence
Recorded Incidents of Union Violence and Intimidation since 1975:	9,000 +

Union Racketeering Indictments since 2001:	1,142
Fines Paid Resulting from DOL Racketeering Investigations since 2001:	$400 million

NLRB Activity
Total Unfair Labor Practices Filed Against Unions since 2000:	43,365
Total NLRB Elections Lost by Unions in 2004:	1,272