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Maxford Nelsen
Director of Labor Policy
Maxford Nelsen is the Freedom Foundation’s Director of Labor Policy.
In this capacity, Max regularly testifies on labor issues before local governments and the state legislature. Max's research has formed the basis of several briefs submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Max's work has been published in local newspapers around the country and in national outlets like the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Hill, National Review and the American Spectator. His work on labor policy issues has been featured in media outlets like the New York Times, Fox News and PBS News Hour. He is a regular guest on local radio stations like 770 KTTH and 570 KVI.
In 2019, Max received a presidential appointment to the Federal Service Impasses Panel, which resolves contract negotiation disputes between federal agencies and labor unions.
Prior to joining the Freedom Foundation in 2013, Max worked for WashingtonVotes.org and the Washington Policy Center, and interned with the Heritage Foundation.
Max graduated magna cum laude from Whitworth University with a bachelor's degree in political science. A Washington native, he lives in Olympia with his wife and son.
Kent teacher strike places union members between a rock and a hard place
As summer draws to a close, parents around Washington state are readying their children for the return to school. For families of the 25,000 students in the Kent School District, however, school will start a little later than anticipated thanks to an illegal teacher strike.
Who’s minding the store at the Washington Federation of State Employees?
Leanne Kunze, the executive director of the Washington Federation of State Employees — the largest union of state employees in Washington — was terminated by the union’s executive board in June. Seven weeks later, however, the union does not appear to have announced or explained the reason for her termination to its members.
Educators in Illinois’ Le Roy School District replace NEA with independent union
With Freedom Foundation assistance, approximately 120 teachers and employees of the Le Roy School District in central Illinois voted overwhelmingly to part ways with the National Education Association and instead form an independent, unaffiliated union to represent their interests at the bargaining table.
Freedom Foundation a finalist for national award
The Freedom Foundation’s research exposing how hundreds of labor unions received tens of millions of dollars in federal COVID relief …
Washington Supreme Court to hear capital gains income tax lawsuit
The Washington State Supreme Court today expedited the ultimate resolution of the Freedom Foundation’s lawsuit challenging the capital gains income tax bill passed by the Legislature in 2021 by announcing it will accept direct review of the case, effectively allowing the matter to bypass the court of appeals.
General Assembly extends collective bargaining to Colorado counties
In the final days of the 2022 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly passed SB 22-230 along party lines requiring most of the state’s counties to engage in collective bargaining with labor unions representing county employees. While it rewards unions, the bill will harm employees and taxpayers.
Complaint forces Washington Education Association to fix campaign finance disclosures
After discovering the political action committee of the Washington state teachers’ union didn’t disclose the sources of its contributions as required by law, the Freedom Foundation filed a complaint with the state, forcing the union to file the proper disclosures.
Congressional Republicans call on SBA to investigate how unions improperly received COVID relief
Citing Freedom Foundation research, the GOP leaders of four committees in the U.S. House of Representatives last week sent a …
Douglas County judge strikes down capital gains income tax
This week, the Douglas County Superior Court struck down the capital gains income tax passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2021. While not the last word, the ruling was a resounding early victory for the Freedom Foundation and all who value the state constitution and want to keep Washington income tax free.
Report: Labor unions received tens of millions in federal COVID relief they weren’t eligible for
Hundreds of labor unions — including numerous teachers’ unions — and related organizations received $36.7 million in federal funds through the federal Paycheck Protection Program for which they were legally ineligible, according to a new Freedom Foundation report released today.
