With just a week to go before Christmas, the Empire State Plaza Promenade in Albany was buzzing with energy as the Freedom Foundation shared a powerful message of financial freedom with New York’s hardworking public employees.
It was the perfect spot to connect with the people who keep the Empire State running. With a warm, indoor space bustling with state workers, our Dec. 17 outreach operation was a whopping success.
Santa hats on and smiles ready, our team hit the ground with brochures in hand, excited to share some holiday cheer and the good news: Public employees have a real choice when it comes to union membership and dues.
Almost every worker we spoke with was either a member of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) or the Public Employees Federation (PEF), and many had no idea paying union dues is completely optional.
By the end of the day, we had distributed 81 brochures to interested workers who are now empowered with the truth about their rights. That’s 81 people who may be able to take back their hard-earned money and redirect it toward their families, savings or other priorities.
One particularly memorable interaction came from a CSEA employee who, after learning about her rights, asked for several extra brochures to share with her coworkers.
This isn’t uncommon. When public employees discover they’re not obligated to pay dues, they often want their colleagues to know, too. After all, why should anyone feel trapped in a financial arrangement they don’t want?
This is why we do what we do. Too many workers still believe the union line that dues are mandatory — misconception unions are happy to cultivate. But the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME affirmed that public employees have a First Amendment right to opt out of union membership and dues without losing any of their benefits or protections.
The day’s outreach was a powerful reminder of how impactful a simple conversation can be. Whether we’re sharing the facts, answering questions or handing out brochures, the Freedom Foundation is giving public employees the tools they need to take control of their paychecks and their choices.
To any CSEA, PEF, or other public employees who still aren’t sure about their options, here’s our challenge to you: Take a moment to ask yourself if union membership is still worth it.
