It’s election time for the Board of Supervisors and every state delegate and senator. And as usual, the
cash is flowing.
Corporate and business entities are donating as usual, from towing companies, trash collectors, real
estate firms, lawyers, and a hundred other business entities, all seeking some influence with their
elected representatives. And then there are the big checks from labor unions.
FWC does not believe in this system of influencing elected representatives. We understand this is the
way it is. But that doesn’t mean we have to do the same thing. There’s something wrong with a system
that depends on corporate contributions and it’s demeaning for honest politicians to have to keep
asking.
We believe that if you work here, you should not have to pay to have influence with your bosses.
Recently the Firefighters union has provided large contributions to various elected members. The SEIU
will soon do the same. (As they always have). But we feel that right now, it’s even more wrong than
usual.
As the County prepares for collective bargaining, it seems less than ethical that competing unions,
anxious to influence government, should be priming the political pump with money. Before any
negotiations or elections take place, local unions are stroking checks at the same time they’re making
demands of local government.
So, let’s stop the cash express. I know that people say the private corporations do it. Since when are
private companies the ethical standard for a union? Unions in an election process should not be
chunking money at those with whom they hope to negotiate.
For more information on who’s getting what, check out the Virginia Political Action Project (VPAP) at
VPAP.org, of which FWC is a proud supporter. And tell your unions to stop using your cash for influence
for collective bargaining.
Dave Lyons, Executive Director, FWC