Vermont approves mandatory fees on non-union members

[footfootfoot]

What the fucking fuck? If I have to kick in union fees, then I'm quitting. I don't earn enough here to live on, much less contribute to unions that I don't belong to.

http://vtdigger.org/2013/02/07/senat...union-members/

The state Senate has approved mandatory fees on non-union members for services they receive, such as representation in grievances and collective bargaining, which under law unions must provide even to non-members.

The Senate bill passed 24-5 Wednesday, and is the first substantive bill to pass the Senate this session. It now faces consideration in the House.

About 2,100 school teachers and support staff, 542 state employees, and 31 municipal employees would have to pay fees capped at 85 percent of full union dues. For education workers, annual fees would range from $150 to $350, with doubled fees for teachers compared to school staff, who include custodians and cafeteria workers.

School boards largely oppose the legislation, which sailed through committee and enjoys widespread support from lawmakers.

Joel Cook, head of the Vermont-NEA, the state’s teacher union, is a key backer of the legislation.

Opposing arguments include the idea that the substantial fee effectively forces non-union members into joining unions, and that the hundreds of thousands in revenues generated by these so-called “fair share” fees could be misdirected towards union political activity.