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International President J.J. Barry's column as reprinted from the July/August 1998 IBEW Journal

Member's Voices Ring True

In the end, it was a victory for working people and by working people.

When the votes were counted on primary election night in California, the people had spoken, and what they said was "No" to the wolves in sheep’s clothing who were masquerading as protectors of the paychecks of working people. Union members said with their votes and told pollsters that they want their unions to serve as their collective voice in the public debate. They understood that they already have the right to contribute or not contribute to labor’s political action committees and don’t need a bogus law to "protect" them from the organizations they formed to speak out for them — their unions. In a sense it was trying to protect working people from themselves.

California’s voters at first were swayed by the simple argument that no one should be forced to support political causes in which they don’t believe. It soon became apparent, however, that the coalition of extreme ideologues and narrow business interests pushing Proposition 226 on the California ballot had anything but the best interests of working people in mind. Their vision was of a California where unions were hamstrung by burdensome requirements not inflicted on any other organization. They wanted a political playing field free of opposition.

The motives behind the union dues initiatives in California and elsewhere were a mockery of the values of democracy and free speech. They were the logical culmination of years of attacks on working people and their unions. Finally, the anti-labor forces in our society decided to up the ante. If the labor movement is showing signs of life, they reasoned, let’s try to cut off their voice by making it difficult for them to inform their members of important issues or tell the truth about candidates and their records. Let’s gag them.

As the cover of this issue shows, workers ripped off the gag that their enemies were attempting to impose. As any good craftsman will tell you, there are a lot of good uses for duct tape, but silencing working people isn’t one of them.

The supporters of the paycheck deception initiative predictable argued that labor had lied about the intent of Proposition 226 in its televised ads and scared workers with false claims. Yet, exit polls showed that union members were not swayed particularly by advertisements. The overwhelming factor they cited in their decision to oppose Proposition 226 was communication from their union — in the form of printed materials, articles in union publications, or personal contact at the job site or at home from a fellow union member. In short, it was the grass roots nature of the campaign that turned the tide. This was a mobilization effort that produced a far higher percentage of union voters in the primary than had turned in recent election years. It was an example of organized labor at its finest.

I am especially proud that IBEW members in California helped lead the way. Polls showed that our brothers and sisters in the Golden State voted against Proposition 226 by an 85 percent to 15 percent, a margin of 14 points higher than the average of all union voters. Reports I received from the field said that IBEW local leaders and members were in the forefront all over California, organizing to make their voices heard. From all of us in the IBEW, we offer a hearty, "Well done!"

Paycheck deception is alive and well in many places across the United States. A major battle has been won, but the war goes on. Language similar to California’s Proposition 226 may be on ballots in other states in November (although a judge has thrown it off the Nevada ballot). Victory in this major battleground, however, shows us the formula for success — organize, mobilize and inform union members of the truth about issues and good things happen.

When all is said and done, that is the foundation of the entire labor movement. Never was it on better display than in California this past June.