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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 frequent guest on local radio stations like 770 KTTH and 570 KVI.
From 2019-21, Max was a presidential appointee to the Federal Service Impasses Panel within the Federal Labor Relations Authority, 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 holds a labor relations certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and 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 sons.
Trump administration finalizes major regulation to stop union dues skimming from Medicaid
The Trump administration today issued a final rule to stop states from skimming union dues and political contributions from payments to home caregivers serving Medicaid-eligible clients.
Unconstitutional anti-Janus bill passed by Washington Senate
(OLYMPIA, Wash.) — The Washington State Senate today voted to approve House Bill 1575, a union-backed measure intended to kneecap …
Seattle’s anti-Janus agreement an objectionable nothingburger
Seattle’s new agreement with unions to protect them from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME contains many objectionable components, but does little that was not already either common practice or required by state law.
Unions unable to defend double standard in HB 1575 debate
In a committee hearing in the Washington State Senate, union lobbyists struggle to explain double standards in legislation they support that would undermine Janus v. AFSCME.
Washington House passes anti-Janus bill along party lines
The Washington State House of Representatives has passed HB 1575, a bill sought by government unions to help stem union membership losses and litigation stemming from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME and subsequent Freedom Foundation outreach to help public employees understand their rights.
Freedom Foundation challenges SEIU 775’s telemarketing campaign
The Freedom Foundation has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against SEIU 775 with the Public Employment Relations Commission on behalf a home caregiver who was illegally signed up for union membership over the phone.
Policy Analysis of SB 5623 and HB 1575: Undermining Public Employees’ Constitutional Rights
In light of declining union membership among public-sector unions in Washington, legislation under consideration Olympia seeks to maximize unions’ dues-collection ability at the expense of public employees’ rights.
Anti-Janus bills advance in Olympia
This week, union-backed legislation designed to help shield government unions from losing members in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling making dues payment optional was advanced out of legislative committees in Olympia.
SEIU will pay a fraction of what it concealed under terms of campaign finance settlement
After a Freedom Foundation complaint, a political arm of the Service Employees International Union has agreed to pay $250,000 in fines and penalties for attempting to conceal nearly $9 million in campaign activity from Washington voters and its own members.
Complaint ends UA 598’s illegal political deductions from employees’ wages
The Public Disclosure Commission has found the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 598 and 35 businesses employing its members violated state laws by deducting a portion of employees’ wages as contributions to the union’s political action committee without first obtaining proper authorization from the employees.
