The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision this past June in Janus v. AFSCME established that mandatory dues or fees in the public sector violated the worker’s First Amendment rights to freedom of speech. And knowing the unions might encounter (self-imposed) difficulties sharing this happy news with its members, the Freedom Foundation generously offers to help out.
One way we do this is via direct mail. Last week a mailing that included generic opt-out information was sent to thousands of SEIU 503, AFSCME 75 and OEA members in the state of Oregon. The workers received the Freedom Foundation’s specially created opt-out form, along with information about our website at OptOutToday.com.
Naturally, our mailers aren’t welcomed by all union members — to say nothing of the union leaders. Nonetheless, we do receive feedback from the majority of recipients pleased with our efforts, and they frequently share with us the anger they’d direct to their union if they thought anyone there cared.
One response we received from a member who’d successfully opted out stated, “I wanted to thank you for giving me the tools I needed to opt out of union dues … Thank you again for making a positive difference in our lives.”
The Freedom Foundation ensures the outreach portion of its organization remains knowledgeable and capable of offering union members straight answers along with the tools needed to exercise their legal rights.
Another appreciative union member said, “By the way, I wanted to mention that I love the work the Freedom Foundation is doing and wanted to let you know that I have already helped four other OHSU employees leave the union, as well as one more today.”
It doesn’t stop there. Still another union defector wrote, “I would just like to sincerely thank you and all your co-workers for enabling me to get my hard-earned money back from the union. This extra $88.67 will give my family the chance to spend time together doing fun activities.”
No one tells a story better than newly freed union members who experience first-hand the benefits of Opting Out and how their money can be better spent on their own needs and wants rather than the unions’ political agenda.
The responses the Freedom Foundation receives reaffirm our physical mailers are a fantastic tool with which to inform all union members of their rights.
Each day we’re working to reverse the stranglehold public-sector unions have on our government, and every opt out we receive moves us one step closer to our goal.
