Back-to-Back Opt-Out Milestones Suggest Record Year in New York

Back-to-Back Opt-Out Milestones Suggest Record Year in New York

Last year, the Freedom Foundation helped a record 1,351 New Yorkers take control of their paychecks by saying “no more” to government unions that don’t represent them. In 2024, we’ve already assisted with 1,025 opt-outs — and it’s only September! With nearly 76% of last year’s total and four months to go, the Freedom Foundation is expected to surpass 1,500 opt-outs in New York by year’s end.

July 2024 marked New York’s best month ever for opt-outs, only to be outdone by August. These back-to-back record months prove that now, more than ever before, public employees are taking action to keep union dues in their own pockets instead of funding Big Labor’s ideological agendas.

The Freedom Foundation isn’t just making waves — we’re making a difference. We’ve been hitting mailboxes, inboxes, and knocking on doors with an effective message: you have the right to stop paying for union politics.

Thanks to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME, no public servant has to pay union dues often used to endorse divisive candidates and radical policies instead of protecting employees in the workplace.

Though union bosses would rather keep public employees in the dark about their misguided priorities, we’re making sure every worker knows not only how their dues are spent, but about their constitutional right to opt-out of membership.

With opt-out numbers set to exceed an already record-breaking 2023, unions are worried. Several, including the New York Civil Service Employees Association and the New York State United Teachers Union, have lashed out against the Freedom Foundation, urging public employees to ignore our “anti-union” “trickery.”

But empowering public employees to make an informed decision about union dues isn’t anti-union, it’s pro-worker. Every opt-out is a step toward union accountability and worker control.

If you’re on the fence, now’s the time. Thousands of your coworkers have already taken action, and you can too.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue to help New Yorkers regain control of their workplace representation.

Outreach Coordinator
Ryan Brooks joined the Freedom Foundation in May of 2021. Before that, he gained a great deal of experience in the political arena by working for various political campaigns in Washington and Alaska. Ryan is a native of Spokane, Washington. He is a US Army Veteran and graduate from Full Sail University. When he’s not out fighting big government unions, Ryan enjoys going on adventures in the wilderness and enjoying life in the country with his family.