Dozens of people lined up to speak out in emotional testimony over a proposal in the Texas Senate that would prohibit the automatic deduction of union dues from the paychecks of teacher and most other state employees, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
State Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Brazoria) is the main sponsor of the controversial proposal. She says it would not limit anybody's ability to join a labor union or participate in the union's activities, including political activities. But she says the taxpayers should not have to finance public sector union activity.
"This would require that the teachers go to a computer, which I assume these teachers are able to do, and make a simple request of their bank to make automatic deductions," Huffman said.
Anne Stillman of the National Federation of Independent Business says her salary as a lobbyist is paid by contributions from NFIB member businesses, who make those contributions voluntarily. She says no government deducts the money for her paycheck.
She says the bottom line is, taxpayers do not want to have to pay for deducting union dues to pay for activities which many of them disagree with.
"The majority of the issues that labor unions in particular lobby in favor of, we find to be very anti-business," she said.
And that fired up Democrats like State Senator Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio).
He told Huffman in a spirited exchange that the sole reason that she is supporting the bill is that labor unions generally engaged in Democrat-friendly activities."I'm under the impression that it is completely voluntary, that nobody can be required to use payroll deductions for their union dues," Menendez asked.
"Under the law, that's correct," Huffman replied.
Many labor union members said it costs taxpayers virtually nothing to withdraw union dues from the paychecks of state employees and teachers, pointing out that deductions are already taken for federal income taxes, insurance payments, and other reasons.
Huffman's bill exempts 'first responders,' including police officers and firefighters, and would allow them to continue having their union dues deducted, which also caused controversy.
Menendez asked if police and firefighters are exempt, why not corrections officers, Child Protective Services workers, and other similar professions. One union supporter accused Huffman's bill of being 'sexist,' becuase mostly male professions, like police and firefighters, win exemptions, while largely female professions, like teachers, don't.
Union leaders pointed out that public sector unions are prohibited by law from using dues money for political activities, and political activities come from political action committee funds, which are separate from dues.
Republicans have long chafed at the actions of public employee unions. They point out that when labor unions in the private sector negotiate with employers, the employers' money is on the table.
When public sector labor unions meet with their employers, it is taxpayers money, not the employers' money is at risk, and the taxpayers, who foot the bill, don't have a seat at the table at all.The measure will now move to a vote by the Senate State Affairs Committee.
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