Conservative foundations and corporate-funded “think tanks” have increased attempts to weaken public sector unions by exploiting the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in the Janus v. AFSCME lawsuit. They have spent big sums of dark money donors’ dollars across the nation to elect anti-labor candidates and on advertising and so-called “research” designed to advance their ambitions.
These shadowy groups bill themselves as promoting “taxpayer relief” and “workers’ choice” when in reality they are pursuing an undemocratic, divisive and dangerous agenda:
- shifting more of the tax burden on to the middle and working class;
- cutting pay, pensions and other employer-provided benefits;
- privatizing public services;
- suppressing the vote; &
- silencing the voices of advocates and unions.
These groups are lobbying and distributing propaganda here in Connecticut, advocating for taxpayer funded religious schools and charter management organizations, urging cuts to defined-benefits pensions and demonizing public sector unions:
- American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
- Americans for Fair Treatment/”Free to Teach” & “Free to Serve”
- Association of American Educators (AAE)
- Christian Educators (formerly Christian Educators Association International)
- Freedom Foundation/”Opt Out Today”
- Mackinac Center for Public Policy
- State Policy Network (SPN)
- Yankee Institute for Public Policy (YIPP)/Constitution State Educators
Select “Opt-Out Scheme” from this section’s sub-menu (above) to learn more about the latest campaign to weaken our unions that these Wall Street-backed groups are carrying out in Connecticut.