Labor and Labor Practices

Unions spend money raised through member dues for a variety of purposes, not all of which are directly related to bargaining, such as legislative lobbying, organizing new shops, and donations to charitable causes. These expenditures are not illegal, but the union is explicitly authorized by law to spend dues money only on collective bargaining. Members (and nonmembers in agency shops) who object to union expenditures on political activity or other activities not directly related to collective bargaining are entitled to make their objection known to the union and to receive a refund of the portion of their dues spent for such purposes, on free speech grounds.