Bush Admin. At War With Unions Over Gay Support

The case involves Glen Greenwood, a air-pollution worker for the Ohio EPA. An elder in the Presbyterian Church he objects to his union dues being used by his civil service union in campaigns supporting gay rights and abortion. Greenwood asked the state to stop withholding approximately $34 each pay period that the union uses for social issues. His union was involved in fighting last year's constitutional amendment in Ohio to bar same-sex marriage.

When the state refused to stop withholding the money earmarked for social issues Greenwood sought to end all payments to the union but the state continued to hold back the dues. In court the Justice Department is fighting the state labor contract with its 36,000 public employees, accusing it of violating religious freedoms guaranteed under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

It's nontrivial matter. Do I get to sue to keep the portion of my tax dollars going to the Iraq War? Or being channeled into 'faith based' social programs?

Bush Admin. At War With Unions Over Gay Support
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: November 15, 2005 12:01 am ET

(Cincinnati, Ohio) The Justice Department is involved in a court case that could affect the way labor unions support LGBT issues.

The case involves Glen Greenwood, a air-pollution worker for the Ohio EPA. An elder in the Presbyterian Church he objects to his union dues being used by his civil service union in campaigns supporting gay rights and abortion.

Greenwood is not a member of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association but it bargains for him. His dues are paid through a payroll withholding.

Greenwood asked the state to stop withholding approximately $34 each pay period that the union uses for social issues. His union was involved in fighting last year's constitutional amendment in Ohio to bar same-sex marriage. The measure passed anyway.

The OCSE also has sought domestic partner benefits for gay couples in its contracts and has lobbied for laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

When the state refused to stop withholding the money earmarked for social issues Greenwood sought to end all payments to the union but the state continued to hold back the dues.

In court the Justice Department is fighting the state labor contract with its 36,000 public employees, accusing it of violating religious freedoms guaranteed under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

In 1988, the US Supreme Court ruled unions could not use money collected from nonunion workers for political activities if those workers opposed. The ruling did, however, say that unions could impose dues for representing those workers in contract negotiations.

The Justice Department wants all dues dropped if a worker objects to any money being used for issues with which they disagree.

Shortly after the Justice Department filed suit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, filed a second case.

The union says the administration is trying to silence unions from becoming involved in social issues.

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http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/11/111505labor.htm