Council Unanimous in Opposing Prop. 226
In a unanimous vote, the City Council on Monday became the first in the county to formally oppose Proposition 226, a June ballot measure that would require unions to receive permission from members before spending money on politics.
Nearly 300 local union members attended the City Council meeting, saying they oppose the ballot initiative because it would destroy the influence of working people in California politics.
Union representatives also said nonunion voters should not be voting on an initiative that only affects labor unions.
“It is extremely unfair to labor,” said Loyd Clifton, president of the Service Employees International Union. “Corporations already outspend labor unions 11 to 1. If Prop. 226 passes, working people in California will lose their political capacity to advocate on behalf of all workers.”
The council agreed. “The people in the unions definitely deserve to have a voice too,” Councilman Ted Moreno said.
Backers of the initiative say workers who do not want their dues going for politics should have the option of quitting the union and paying a smaller fee to have labor chiefs represent them during contract talks.
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