In a recent dialogue with a member of New York’s Public Employees Federation (PEF), we encountered a stark example of the hurdles facing public employees striving to exercise their First Amendment right to refrain from joining and financially support a labor union.
This individual, resolute in her decision to cancel the unwanted deduction of union dues from her paychecks faced a setback after submitting her paperwork through OptOutToday.com. She subsequently received a call from a union official urging her to reconsider her choice and falsely asserting that cancelling her union membership would strip her of short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Such misinformation is, sadly, par for the course.
Thankfully, in this instance, truth prevailed. The steadfast public servant, initially disillusioned by the union’s lukewarm support, learned that all New York State employees retain eligibility for employer-provided disability benefits regardless of union membership. Her resolve solidified, she asked: “PEF offers me nothing, so why should I continue funding them?”
In the face of deception, she chose empowerment. Opting out of PEF became not just a decision, but a declaration of independence. Meanwhile, the Freedom Foundation’s outreach efforts have not gone unnoticed. Unions statewide, wary of their members uncovering the truth, now caution against engaging with us.
They recognize that transparency and truth pose a threat to their control. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only example of PEF officials being less than forthcoming.
Earlier this year, news broke that PEF’s director of organizing, Daniel Carpenter, was no longer employed by the union. While PEF will not indicate whether he was terminated or resigned, his departure came just weeks after a PEF member and activist sued the union for allegedly failing to properly investigate and address her claim that Carpenter sexually assaulted her at a union conference.
Ironically, Carpenter had condemned the Freedom Foundation’s efforts in New York to inform public employees of their civil liberties as “fraudulent” and “deceptive” during a union townhall event.
Despite the opposition of such bullies, our commitment remains unwavering. We stand for the rights and empowerment of public employees, even in the face of resistance and deceit from those who purport to represent them.
