Letters to the Editor
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
‘Where the Money Goes’
A response is in order to the op-ed piece, “Where the Money Goes” [Op-ed, November 17, 2006]: First of all, none of the money spent by union-related political action committees comes from members’ dues. All of the PAC money comes from separate, voluntary contributions made by union members who recognize the vital and necessary importance of political activity done on their behalf. Few working men and women consider decent wages, affordable health care, retirement security, and the freedom to join a union as “dubious purposes.”
And when it comes to political contributions, the unions are greatly outspent by corporations and business lobbying groups, including many who have dumped their pension obligations on the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and at least one — Wal-Mart — which has Medicaid as its workers’ health insurer.
Secondly, unions are subject to the strictest level of financial disclosure of any organization and must file a variety of reports. The name and salary of every union staff member is public information available on the Web site mentioned in the article. We know of no other type of organization subjected to that kind of scrutiny. The public financial disclosure form for my local runs hundreds of pages and lists virtually every disbursement, vendor payment, revenue, and expense in great detail. In addition, every gift, meal, or anything else of value received by a union staff member must be reported as public information.
Corporations — small and large — should be held to this same standard. If all the money public companies spent on salaries and perks for executives such as private jets, golf club memberships, conferences at expensive resorts, luxury boxes, and hospitality tents were disclosed it would allow stockholders to see where their money was being spent and to hold management accountable.
Public companies — too many of which are willing to help their bottom lines by cutting pension and health benefits for their workers — should be compelled to disclose their expenses in the same way the federal government requires of unions.
RANDI WEINGARTEN
President
United Federation of Teachers
New York, N.Y.
Please address letters intended for publication to the Editor of The New York Sun. Letters may be sent by e-mail to editor@nysun.com, by facsimile to 212-608-7348, or post to 105 Chambers Street, New York City 10007. Please include a return address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited.
