Big Unions Spent Millions on Left-Wing Politics — 86% From Member Dues

The Political Spending of Major Public-Sector Unions

The political influence of the country's four largest public-sector unions has come under scrutiny due to their substantial spending on elections and progressive activism during the 2024 election cycle. According to a recent report, these unions collectively spent $915 million, with 86% of that amount sourced from member dues. This figure highlights concerns about how union funds are being utilized and whether members are fully aware of the extent to which their money is directed toward political causes.

The Commonwealth Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit focused on free-market policies, released this report, emphasizing the significant political expenditure by the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). A similar report was published during the 2022 election cycle, revealing that these same unions spent $708 million on progressive politics.

Criticism Over Union Spending Practices

The report's findings have sparked criticism, particularly regarding the use of member dues for political purposes. Critics argue that these unions are more focused on advancing a political agenda than on supporting their members. Aaron Withe, a public-sector unions expert, expressed concern over the impact of such spending. He noted that unions often seek to elect officials who increase taxes and expand government size, which he claims leads to a continuous growth in government and tax rates.

Withe pointed out that while private-sector unions are driven by the need to improve a company’s bottom line, public-sector unions operate differently. Their incentives are tied to raising taxes and expanding government, which allows for more public employees and bureaucratic positions. This dynamic, according to Withe, results in a cycle where government grows year after year.

David Osborne, Senior Director of Labor Policy for the Commonwealth Foundation and co-author of the report, raised questions about whether union members are aware of how their dues are being spent. He noted that in the past, union executives used dues to support member services such as contract negotiations and grievance processing. However, today, members may be unknowingly funding left-leaning candidates and progressive causes like abortion, critical race theory, and defunding the police.

Breakdown of Union Spending

According to the report, approximately 25% of the unions' total spending—$642 million—is allocated to "representational activities," which are closely tied to membership support. Another 33% of the spending, or $845 million, goes toward general overhead, union administration, staff benefits, and other operational costs.

However, the most significant portion of the spending is directed toward elections and progressive political activism. Collectively, the unions spent around $755 million on federal elections and national progressive politics, while their state-level affiliates spent an additional $160 million on state races and ideological causes. Of this total, $650 million came from union membership dues, representing 86% of the political spending.

The report also highlighted the role of voluntary Political Action Committee (PAC) deductions from members and their families. These deductions allow unions to collect money that can be directly used to support candidates. While this is not supposed to be done with member dues, the report found that 14% of the unions’ political spending came from federal PACs.

Concerns About Accountability and Transparency

The Commonwealth Foundation criticized the heavy reliance on member dues for political spending, stating that it reflects a troubling trend. They noted that much of this spending is possible due to the lack of accountability and control over how union executives use members’ dues. According to the report, union dues, not separately collected PAC funds, are the primary source of political spending, with 86% of the funding coming from dues.

The report further pointed out that few members are aware that union leaders often funnel their dues through super PACs and 527 organizations to support political projects. Additionally, members have limited ability to effect change within their unions to stop such practices.

Calls for Greater Transparency

While the report raises important concerns about the use of union dues for political purposes, it remains unclear whether the unions involved will address these criticisms. Fox News Digital reached out to the NEA, AFT, SEIU, and AFSCME for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication.

As the debate over union spending continues, the question of transparency and accountability remains at the forefront. Members and stakeholders alike are calling for greater oversight to ensure that union funds are used in ways that align with the best interests of their members.