Letter to Unions

Dear Union Members and Officers,

We at the Fundamental Reform Network share your distress that unions have faced enormous setbacks in recent years – loss of membership and funding, the weakening of labor laws and regulations, the lack of enforcement, your ability to organize… We would like to see that change in your/our favor.

Our Network’s plan is to completely eliminate corporate funding to candidates and incumbents or other perquisites in any form. While at first glance that might seem to be against your own interests, we ask that you consider our plan thoughtfully. Please do not take this plan as disrespect or a lack of appreciation for the causes you have fought to support. In the final analysis, we believe our program is in your interest and want the opportunity to explain why.

The key reason is simple: At this time unions are at a tremendous disadvantage in relationship to the power of huge corporations. Their power has enabled them to eliminate or reduce regulation or its enforcement of labor laws and otherwise constrict your power and activities. There is no way unions can compete with the money, lobbyists, and lawyers corporations are able to throw at any given issue. If we progressives can unite to eliminate all corporate money from the decision making process,we can begin to make our representatives responsive to their electorate. That levels the playing field and allows issues to be considered on their merit rather than the size of the campaign contribution.

This issue of corporate campaign spending is hot right now following the Citizen’s United decision. There is a huge public outcry to which we believe our program will become central. If we succeed, unions like other public interest campaigns aren’t going to have to pay to play -- to have our voices heard. Our representatives will open to issues on the basis of merit, not the amount of money an interest can pour into their campaign chests. This is in all of our interests.

The support of labor in this fight is essential. We hope that union support for our program will be early and strong. We ask you to consider taking our proposal to your Executive Committee for consideration of formally endorsing our program and to make your advocacy of it a primary educational goal for your members.