UTU DAILY NEWS POLITICS SPECIAL
Wednesday, June 03, 1998

California voters soundly defeat anti-labor initiative

SACRAMENTO – The voters of California defeated an anti-labor initiative that would have made it more difficult for labor unions to flex their political muscle.

By a majority of 54%, California voters rejected Proposition 226 that would have required labor unions to get members’ permission before withholding their dues for political contributions. Unions spent $15 million in opposition to the so-called "paycheck protection" initiative fearing that similar restrictions would spread across the country. Republican Gov. Pete Wilson and other prominent Republicans supported the anti-union measure.

"The voters of California have made a wise decision to protect the rights of union members to engage in politics on a level playing field," said UTU International President Charles L. Little. "Our UTU California members along with State Legislative Director J.P. Jones did an outstanding job in working to defeat this ill-conceived measure."

California became the battleground by some anti-union forces because unions spent more than $35 million during the 1996 elections – most of it on behalf of Democrats. A national "paycheck protection proposal was defeated in the U.S. House in March and has been blocked from consideration in the Senate. Similar bills and propositions have arisen in more than two dozen states.

"The California vote says to the other states that labor will fight against any attempt to dilute its voice in this country’s political system," said Little.

Little pointed out that the UTU’s TPEL Political Action Committee is voluntary and members’ contributions are pledged individually. The TPEL is the largest rail labor PAC in the country, and one of the largest transportation PACs.