The strength of our labor movement rests on its solidarity. We stand together shoulder to shoulder in our fight to achieve a better life for working families. Our members and our unions understand the importance of this principle whether we are organizing workers, walking picket lines, bargaining contracts, mobilizing for political action, or fighting for passage of fair and just laws.
The labor movement’s work takes substantial resources. The AFL-CIO is funded by per capita taxes from its affiliated unions, which are derived from the dues of our members. Affiliation with the AFL-CIO is an act of great solidarity with other unions, and involves important mutual obligations to work together to achieve the labor movement’s objects and principles, and to respect each other’s organizing and bargaining rights, with the full protections of the AFL-CIO Constitution.
Just as the labor movement rejects attempts by our opponents to undermine our solidarity through so-called “right-to-work” laws that enable workers to enjoy the benefits of union representation without paying their fair and necessary share, we also reject attempts by affiliated unions to participate in the work of the Federation – and to enjoy the benefits of its solidarity and protections—without paying their way.
Therefore, the Executive Council directs that the AFL-CIO take any action it deems necessary and appropriate to collect delinquent or outstanding per capita taxes, both from unions that disaffiliate and from those that remain in the Federation. The AFL-CIO will seek to accomplish this through discussion and other consensual means. But if reasonable efforts to do so fail, the Federation is authorized to take legal action, if necessary, to collect the per capita taxes due from any union that refuses to honor its obligations to the AFL-CIO.