The war to curb the excesses of public-sector unions has witnessed two cataclysmic events in the past year.
First, the U.S. Supreme Court, fortified by the addition of a new conservative justice labor leaders could never in their worst nightmares have anticipated, this summer issued its long-awaited ruling in Janus v. AFSCME eliminating the burden mandatory dues or fees for millions of government employees across the country.
And second, the Freedom Foundation emerged as the face of this movement.
No less an authority than the Wall Street Journal anointed the Freedom Foundation “…the vanguard of an emerging effort to undercut public-sector unions by depriving them of dues-paying members one at a time.”
It wasn’t alone in that assessment. And with good reason.
National media outlets rightfully characterized the Freedom Foundation as the go-to agency for comments about Janus in particular and the right-to-work movement in general because no other policy organization in the country had as much skin in the game as we did.
It’s one thing to offer opinions about a game you’re watching from the stands, but only those actually on the field can offer an authentic perspective.
If you want to know what’s really going on in the battle for the hearts and minds of government employees, ask an organization that’s been sending paid canvassers door to door for four years to inform them of their Constitutional rights. Talk to attorneys currently involved in more than 40 separate lawsuits with public-sector unions. Find a group that can boast of having cost the unions more than $20 million and 20,000 members based solely on its efforts.
The Freedom Foundation is the only policy organization in the world that fits such a description.
The unions have acknowledged that status for years. Now, thanks to the belated attention of the mainstream media, the public is hearing our story, too.
The links posted below represent only a representative fraction of the mentions received by the Freedom Foundation by national media outlets.
BEST FREEDOM FOUNDATION QUOTES
Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board highlighted the Freedom Foundation’s standing up for the “Clear Will of Washingtonians.” “In light of the strong statutory and constitutional case against Seattle’s new tax, a local think-tank known as the Freedom Foundation has sued the city as an ‘assault on the rule of law.’ Not to mention the clear will of Washingtonians, who rejected a ballot measure for an income tax aimed at the wealthy as recently as 2010. The campaign was led by Bill Gates Sr. and was well funded by labor unions but lost 64 percent-36 percent.” (Editorial Board, “The Seattle Tax Fight,” Wall Street Journal, 8/20/17)
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board highlighted the Freedom Foundation’s work to block Seattle’s income tax. “Seattle’s City Council openly ignored the state of Washington’s law and constitution when it voted unanimously in July to levy a 2.25 percent tax on its wealthy residents. The Freedom Foundation, a local think tank, and other organizations sued to block the ordinance. In pleasant news that received little attention because it came down on the day before Thanksgiving, the King County Superior Court ruled the tax is illegal.” (Editorial Board, “An Income Tax By Any Other Name,” Wall Street Journal, 11/27/17)
“Anti-union campaign goes door to door.” (Brody Mullins, “Antiunion Campaign Goes Door-To-Door,” Wall Street Journal, 8/17/16)
Freedom Foundation: “Vanguard of an emerging effort to undercut public-sector unions.” “For the past year, the Freedom Foundation has been at the vanguard of an emerging effort to undercut public-sector unions by depriving them of dues-paying members one at a time.” (Brody Mullins, “Antiunion Campaign Goes Door-To-Door,” Wall Street Journal, 8/17/16)
“Biggest effort of its kind.” “The Freedom Foundation’s campaign appears to be the biggest effort of its kind. In Washington and Oregon, its home territory, as many as 100 activists work to tell thousands of individuals in the home healthcare and childcare businesses, who are considered public-sector workers because they are paid with Medicaid funds, that they can save as much as $600 a year by voluntarily leaving their labor unions.” (Brody Mullins, “Antiunion Campaign Goes Door-To-Door,” Wall Street Journal, 8/17/16)
Wall Street Journal highlights the Freedom Foundation’s post-Janus efforts. “On Thursday, the Freedom Foundation, a conservative group in Olympia, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mr. Stone and six other state workers.” (Kris Maher, “Unions Take Hit After Supreme Court Ruling,” Wall Street Journal, 8/5/17)
Fox News
Freedom Foundation sued after Seattle’s tax, which they consider a slippery slope. “Its passage prompted a court challenge from the Freedom Foundation, a conservative think tank that considers the tax a slippery slope that could open the door to more taxes in the future.” (Barnini Charkraborty, “Judge Rules Seattle’s Tax On The Wealthy Is Illegal; City Vows To Appeal,” Fox News, 11/24/17)
“Exclusive: Freedom Foundation sues Seattle over controversial new income tax.” (Barnini Chakraborty, “Exclusive: Freedom Foundation sues Seattle over controversial new income tax,” Fox News, 8/9/17)
Freedom Foundation attacks law that would “set a dangerous precedent.” “The Freedom Foundation sued Seattle Wednesday over its controversial new income tax on the rich, which critics call ‘an assault’ on the law that sets a dangerous precedent.” (Barnini Chakraborty, “Exclusive: Freedom Foundation sues Seattle over controversial new income tax,” Fox News, 8/9/17)
Seattle income tax an “assault on the rule of law.” “This is clearly bad policy and illegal, but it’s also an assault on the rule of law,” David Dewhirst, a lawyer for the Freedom Foundation, told Fox News in a statement. “If they can get away with it this time, where does it stop?”” (Barnini Chakraborty, “Exclusive: Freedom Foundation sues Seattle over controversial new income tax,” Fox News, 8/9/17)
“Janus ruling fallout: Washington state employees sue to ‘escape’ union.” (Kaitlyn Schallhorn, “Janus Ruling Fallout: Washington State Employees Sue To ‘Escape’ Union,” Fox News, 8/3/18)
Fox highlights Freedom Foundation’s work in California. “The Freedom Foundation, which encourages West Coast government employees to leave the unions, said it recently sent out messages to 50,000 California teachers with instructions how to leave the California Teachers Association.” (Lukas Mikelionis, “California’s Big Labor Pushes Measures Against Anti-Union Activists Amid Looming Hit On Their Finances,” Fox News, 6/5/18)
The Daily Caller
“Union-busting nonprofit set to do battle with public-sector unions all over the West Coast.” (Tim Pearce, “A Union Busting Nonprofit Is Set To Do Battle With Public-Sector Unions All Over The West Coast,” The Daily Caller, 6/16/18)
Freedom Foundation ready to educate public workers. “If the Supreme Court rules on the Janus case as expected, the Freedom Foundation is ready to fight public-sector unions in California, Oregon and Washington to inform their members and fee payers that they are free to stop paying union dues.” (Tim Pearce, “A Union Busting Nonprofit Is Set To Do Battle With Public Sector Unions All Over The West Coast,” The Daily Caller, 6/16/18)
The Blaze
The Freedom Foundation has cost SEIU close to $10 Million. “To combat this, the Freedom Foundation has worked to inform as many of these providers as possible that they have the right to opt out of paying any fees to SEIU, and it claims it has helped about 10,000 people in Washington state succeed in keeping more of their own benefits, costing SEIU close to $10 million, according to Freedom Foundation’s estimates.” (Justin Haskins, “State Officials, Union Desperately Fight To Silence Think Tank,” The Blaze, 6/18/17)
The Daily Signal
“Freedom Foundation drains union membership rolls by promoting First Amendment.” (Kevin Mooney, “Freedom Foundation Drains Union Membership Rolls By Promoting First Amendment,” The Daily Signal, 8/9/17)
The Freedom Foundation an “action tank, not just a think tank.” “We are an action tank, not just a think tank, and our strategy has been to inform SEIU members of their free speech rights and to let them know they have certain rights, including the right to not join a union and pay dues,’ said (Brian) Minnich, executive vice president of the Freedom Foundation.” (Kevin Mooney, “Freedom Foundation Drains Union Membership Rolls By Promoting First Amendment,” The Daily Signal, 8/9/17)
