2012 ballot measure designed to attack workers' strengths, silence union voices

A group is on track to place an initiative on the fall 2012 ballot that would gut union strength and make it nearly impossible for labor to compete in elections.

The ballot initiative is specifically designed to make it nearly impossible for members of an employee organization, including Local 1000, to raise money and pool their resources for political campaigns. If passed by voters, the measure would further skew the political landscape in favor of big corporations and business interests.

The new initiative would not only prevent expenditures of any union dues in political campaigns, it would prohibit any in-kind contributions such as union members volunteering to phone bank or walk precincts.

"This misleading initiative was put on the ballot by wealthy interests who aren't satisfied that they can spend unlimited money on campaigns--they also must weaken the collective strength of working people," said Yvonne R. Walker, Local 1000 president. "This initiative would effectively silence labor from supporting candidates or positions that benefit working families."

Big money gets bigger

In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is illegal to limit political donations by corporations. This helped wealthy special interests gain more power in an environment where they already outspend labor by a 3-1 margin in direct contributions and a 15-1 margin in indirect ("soft money") contributions.  [see video below]

The initiative's backers include oil and real estate interests, wealthy investors, CEOs and a retired bank chairman. The measure's title--"Stop Special Interest Money Now Act" is misleading because it implies that it affects all
sides. In reality, the measure does very little to limit donations from business interests and corporate political action committees while it cripples public
employee groups.

No union dues in campaigns

Californians rejected two similar measures, in 1998 and 2005, to silence the voices of teachers, nurses, firefighters and other working people. A third effort, called "Paycheck Protection 2010," failed to qualify for the ballot. Supporters of this new attack have submitted more than 800,000 signatures in an effort to comply with the 500,000 valid voter signatures to qualify for the ballot.