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SAY NO TO PROP. 32 STOP THE SPECIAL EXEMPTIONS ACT. Coming to a ballot box near you this November. Prop. 32 -- November’s Anti-Union Ballot Measure. Much different and much worse than previous anti-union measures
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SAY NO TO PROP. 32STOP THE SPECIAL EXEMPTIONS ACT Coming to a ballot box near you this November
Prop. 32 -- November’s Anti-Union Ballot Measure • Much different and much worse than previous anti-union measures • Backers claim it’s campaign finance reform – they even call it the “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act”
Prop. 32 -- A Deceptive Power Grab • Takes away union members’ voice in politics • Riddled with EXEMPTIONS for corporate interests and billionaires
What We’ve Won Through Politics – And Stand To Lose • grievance process • sick leave • FMLA leave • minimum wage • Project Labor Agreements • job security • not contracting out • vacation leave • collective bargaining • Medicare • health insurance • pension • social security • 8-hour day • meal breaks • workplace health & safety laws • child labor laws • overtime pay
Prop. 32 is the First Blow of a “One-Two” punch • Remove unions from politics in 2012, then come after our rights in in 2014 • Next are local and state ballot measures that gut pensions, eliminate PLAs and even strip collective bargaining rights • And we’d have no ability to fight back
Fair and Balanced? Backers claim that the measure: • Bans both corporate and union contributions to candidates • Prohibits campaign contributions from government contractors • Prohibits corporations and unions from collecting political funds from employees and members via voluntary payroll deduction • Makes all employee political contributions by any other means strictly voluntary, requiring annual written consent.
“Fair and Balanced” Really? • PROHIBITS unions from making ANY contributions to state or local candidates or political parties EVER. • Backers claim it’s “balanced” because the same ban applies to “corporations” but… • Riddled with exemptions: Wall Street hedge funds, real estate investors, insurance companies and billionaire businessmen would be able to contribute directly to candidates
“Fair and Balanced” Really? • Claims to prohibit corporations AND unions from using payroll deductions for politics. • Unions collect dues through payroll deduction. Corporations don’t use payroll deduction for politics; they use their massive profits. • Exempts Corporate Super PACs and front groups allowing them to spend with NO Limits!
Prop. 32 Eliminates Our Voice UNIONS WON’T BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO: • Candidates – Local or State • Ballot Measures – Local or State • Independent Expenditures • We couldn’t even communicate with our own members on politics
Who It Restricts ALL UNIONS in California will be affected - public and private sector, service, trades, EVERYBODY.
Who Can Spend Without Limits (THE 1%) • Corporate Super PACs – No Limit • Chamber of Commerce – No Limit • Michelle Rhee’s PAC – No Limit • Karl Rove’s PAC – No Limit • Wal-Mart – No Limit • Assoc Builders & Contractors – No Limit • Billionaires – No Limit
Who's Behind It • Wealthy corporate interests • Orange County millionaires • Anti-union activists • Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association • Lincoln Club of OC (backers of Citizens United case)
Our Opponents’ Message Now U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz:"This initiative gets to the heart of one of the most corrosive elements in politics: campaign contributions. For too long, special interest money has dominated our politics, muting the voice of average Californians.”
Why Their Message is so Dangerous • “Campaign Finance Reform” is very popular with the public • Eight in 10 voters say there’s too much big money spent on political campaigns
How We’re Going to Win – Message TIPS ON MESSAGING: • 1) This is an attack on our jobs and our wages – personalize fight for members • 2) It’s not real reform – it’s unbalanced, unfair and full of exemptions for wealthy and corporations • 3) Gives even MORE power to corporate interests, Super PACs and billionaires to write their own rules
How We're Going to Win – Field and Paid Media • We need more education than ever – MUST reach every union member in the state to win • Member to Member Program – in worksites, phoning, walking and online • Building a broad coalition of partners • Voter persuasion and GOTV campaign to general voters through Alliance for a Better CA • Statewide paid media – TV and radio, social media and mail
For More Information: • Go to www.CaliforniaLabor.org • Contact California Labor Federation Communications Director Steve Smith at ssmith@calaborfed.org