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NY State to Public Institutions:
No Money for Union Busting

October 4, 2002

New York this week passed a law preventing hospitals and other entities that receive state funds from using that money to fight union organizing drives.

New York AFL-CIO President and Local 3 member Denis Hughes joined other union leaders in the bill-signing ceremony with Governor George Pataki. The "Union Neutrality Bill," which was opposed by the health care industry and the Business Council of New York State, requires companies that receive state funding to keep financial records and submit to audits to make sure no money is used to discourage organizing drives. Under the law, state funds cannot be used to educate supervisors on anti-union positions, or to hire attorneys, employees, or consultants who will coordinate an anti-organizing effort.

"This legislation begins to allow the labor movement to have a level playing field in its efforts to organize workers," Hughes said. "It stands for the principle that the government should not use taxpayer dollars to subsidize an employers costs related to influencing their employees decision about whether to form or join a union. That decision should be left to employees, without state-funded employer interference."

Unfortunately, many unscrupulous employers use illegal and immoral tactics to influence workers decisions whether or not to join a union. This legislation will ensure that the power and resources of the state are not used to subsidize such conduct. The bill does not prohibit employers from using their own funds to communicate with workers fairly and freely. Employers who wish to wage an anti-union campaign would have to use their own money to do so.

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