Union members, where do your dues go?

On Labor Day, the Minnesota State Fair’s afternoon parade included a number of union floats. Being Labor Day and all, unions were seizing the opportunity to highlight their “pro-worker” mantra.

But very little of union members’ dues go toward representation. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, less than 25 cents of every dollar given to unions is used to represent workers through contracts, grievances, and discipline. The rest is spent on union salaries and overhead, and political spending, lobbying, and money to other groups.

And with 90 percent of unions’ political spending going to Democratic candidates and leftist organizations, many public employees are unhappy their union is prioritizing a one-sided political agenda over their professional needs.

If you are unhappy with how your union dues are being used, you can opt-out of union membership. Minnesota teachers can resign right now (through September 30), and can generate a customized resignation letter here.

If enough public employees exercise their right to resign, maybe it will serve as a wake-up call for unions to refocus on members’ needs and not get caught up in a political maelstrom.