Freedom Foundation canvassers have been on University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) campuses talking with employees about their rights, and what we’ve seen from union leadership is disturbing.

While our mission is straightforward — to inform public employees about their First Amendment right to choose whether to support a union and expose the political antisemitism of these labor organizations — UCLA labor leaders have responded with hostility, fear tactics and open intolerance.

During a recent campus visit, for example, our team members Peter and Dustin were told by numerous union-represented workers that Freedom Foundation materials had been featured in official union presentations, warning members not to speak with us and calling us Nazis.

For trying to expose their anti-Semitism. Figure that one out.

Even more reprehensibly, union stewards made a point of positioning themselves outside the Ronald Reagan Medical Center and to monitor members who spoke with our canvassers.

That’s not leadership. That’s intimidation.

A few even tried to harass and fight our efforts, but we came better prepared this year. The canvassing team had already alerted campus police of our mission, and they were advised of our right to do so.

The officers quickly nipped any intimidation in the bud. (see photos)

This behavior has become especially troubling given the anti-Semitic rhetoric spreading within UCLA’s union culture. Instead of focusing on representing workers, union leaders have used their platforms to advance divisive and hateful narratives — alienating Jewish members and anyone who dares to disagree.

Carlos, another of our canvassers, even spoke to a medical worker who was highly aware of this issue, and she claimed the union was anti-Semitic, promoted laziness, was too political and used members as pawns.”

She was even happy to take some extra literature to pass out to her collogues inside the medical center.

The good news is that employees are taking action. We have witnessed a sharp uptick in both AFSCME 3299- and UAW 4811-represented employees opting out of their union and holding it accountable.

Public employees deserve to make their own decisions without fear of being watched, punished or shamed.

Every conversation we have, every employee who learns the truth, is a step toward a UCLA system that respects freedom of speech, diversity of thought and genuine equality.

No one should be bullied into silence. And no one should be forced to fund it.