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Subscribe to RSSThe Wall Street Journal has an interesting dive into public records, reporting today that unions in the U.S. spend a lot more on politics and lobbying than was known previously. Four times as much. (Click here to read the full story.)
The story by reporters Tom McGinty and Brody Mullins uses reports that unions must file with the U.S. Department of Labor. McGinty is a specialist in the use of databases of public records.
An excerpt:
Previous estimates have focused on labor unions' filings with federal election officials, which chronicle contributions made directly to federal candidates and union spending in support of candidates for Congress and the White House.
But unions spend far more money on a wider range of political activities, including supporting state and local candidates and deploying what has long been seen as the unions' most potent political weapon: persuading members to vote as unions want them to.
The new figures come from a little-known set of annual reports to the Labor Department in which local unions, their national parents and labor federations have been required to detail their spending on politics and lobbying since 2005.
This kind of spending, which is on the rise, has enabled the largest unions to maintain and in some cases increase their clout in Washington and state capitals, even though unionized workers make up a declining share of the workforce. The result is that labor could be a stronger counterweight than commonly realized to "super PACs" that today raise millions from wealthy donors, in many cases to support Republican candidates and causes.
The story is careful to note that we can't know whether unions spend more than corporate interests, which don't have to file such reports.
An interactive graphic with the story lists the 200 unions that reported the most spending on politics and lobbying, starting with the AFL-CIO, airline pilots and air traffic controllers.
The Wall Street Journal is behind a paywall, but you can read this story through a Google News search.
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i worked under the UAW, UNITED AUTO WORKERS, and am darn well proud of my union status job protection,yearly pay increases, paid medical ins., workers compensation, paid vacations, paid holidays time and a half for anything over 8 hours a day, time and a half for saturday work even if u missed a day dring the week, double time for SUNDAY work once every 3 years we got 10 weks vacation with 13 weeks of pay in between u got ur regular paid vacation. the companies were happy to give these benefits because because we took proud in our work quality first a great days pay for a job well done.we never went out on strike because the company sat down with union reps. and talked things outwe all worked together the workers the company people. in comes the REPUBLICANS and and corporate greed just 2 days ago a man was named president of a company, he worked one day and was given a bounus of like7 0r 10 million dollars, how can u justify that? the downfall of this once great country was---------GEORGE WALKER BUSH . if he had a brain he would be lonesome/ when GOD invented the word stupid, i'm sure he had dimwiity BUSH in mind the GOP is nothing but a buch of scum bags catering to corporate greed remember in UNION there is strength, witout unions the common worker doesn't have a leg to stand on. ---u older people remember HERBERT HOOVER, WHEN I BECOME PRES. THERE WILL BE A CHICKEN IN every pot and a car in every garage. well when he left office the people didn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out if u want to pay 6000 dollars up front before ur medicare kicks in then vote for ROMNEY-IF NOT THEN VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRAT, NO MATTER who that may be. have a great day everyone BILL T. COSHOCTON OHIO
All 5% of You, compared to the rest of the Nation.
I'm glad your proud. But your not living in the Real World.
You might want to see how much your Union President is earning.
Except for FORD, the other U.S. Auto Companies still owe the Tax payers a little bit of Money.
Most of the U.S. Automotive Parts used to assemble U.S. Car are made outside the U.S.
Ten weeks vacation? Sounds like Europe. How much longer do you think that will last?
I agree assembly work is not easy. But you have to be realistic.
Enjoy your pay and benefits, the one's who replace you will not get the same.
However your Union Bosses will only continue to make more and more off the labor of others.
I know your in total disagreement, and that is what still makes ALL of us free.
Good Luck and be Safe.