Big labor really doesn’t like the concept of the state Legislature needing a supermajority vote to raise taxes—even though Washington voters have now approved the idea a whopping six times. This is how the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) reported on the passage of Initiative 1366,
“Eyman celebrated this political touchdown with a little extra step in his victory dance. He obviously enjoyed repelling foes who contended the measure amounted to blackmailing lawmakers with the loss of billions of sales tax dollars for schools and state programs if they didn’t pass the tax-limiting constitutional amendment.”
It doesn’t take a communications expert to read into the tone of disgust. But, it’s a tone of disgust that only re-enforces the stunning hypocrisy of big labor. You see, some of our state’s largest unions require supermajority votes in their own constitutions.
- The Washington Federation of State Employee’s (WFSE) Constitution requires a 2/3rd vote to approve a special assessment: “Special assessments may be levied on the members of affiliated locals by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present at a biennial Convention or a special meeting of the Council.”
- The Washington Education Association’s (WEA) Constitution requires a 2/3rd vote to approve a special assessment: “Special assessments may be levied by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Representative Assembly.”
- The Service Employee International Union’s (SEIU) Constitution requires a 2/3rd vote to approve a strike: “The authority to call a strike is vested in the Negotiating Committee with the approval of the Executive Board. In order for a strike to be called, it must be authorized by a ratification vote by two-thirds of those affected members who participate in the vote”
- The Washington State Labor Council’s (WSLC) Constitution requires a constitutional amendment—a process that takes a 2/3rd vote—to increase the per capita tax on members.
It appears that, once again, what big labor believes is good and proper for it is not for mere mortals, like Washington citizens. That’s probably because unions do not stand to benefit from making it harder to raise taxes, a process that would make it that much more difficult for them to influence Democrat lawmakers with campaign cash.
Leave a Reply