Last Thursday was a busy day for certain postal workers thanks to the Freedom Foundation. So many public employees had returned union membership resignation forms that postal employees couldn’t sort through or fit them all in our PO box.  They ended up having to call us to collect them.

In Oregon, we’ve processed more than 6,000 union resignation requests from once-forcibly unionized government employees eager to opt out since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling last June in Janus v. AFSCME banning mandatory union dues and fees.

It seems a huge number were just waiting for the right opportunity to exercise their rights. And our outreach has provided them with the tools needed to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Freedom Foundation has a large toolbox of outreach strategies to do the necessary work of informing public employees about their rights.

From e-mails and mailers to door-to-door canvassing and office visits, we’ve gone all out in our mission to bring the truth about union membership to every public worker and to hold government unions accountable.

The majority of the 6,000 who’ve opted out have done so after receiving Freedom Foundation materials or information.

Not that the unions haven’t inadvertently helped, as well.

Last week, for example, Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, sent an e-mail to each of the union’s members around the country warning them about the scale and variety of our efforts.

Not surprisingly, his ham-fisted attack only generated curiosity among workers who might never have heard of the Freedom Foundation otherwise but are well-acquainted with Saunders and his bullying tactics.

In the end, Saunders only wound up driving more of his members away.

Lastly, a significant number of employees who’ve opted out have requested we send them several more opt out forms to distribute to their colleagues. After all, if you find you can save yourself hundreds — and in some cases thousands — of dollars, wouldn’t you want your colleagues to learn about their rights as well?

Our efforts have given them a chance to have their voices heard and their rights respected.