Background:

The Kochs’ “Employee Freedom Week” Is An Excuse To Attack On Working Families

Employee Freedom Week Focused On Attacking Unions

National Employee Freedom Week Described Its Campaign As “Offering An Unparalleled Focus On The Freedoms Union Employees Have To Opt Out Of Union Membership.” According to National Employee Freedom Week, “National Employee Freedom Week is a nationwide campaign offering an unparalleled focus on the freedoms union employees have to opt out of union membership. Featuring a diverse and nonpartisan coalition of state-based and national organizations, National Employee Freedom Week empowers union employees with information to make the decision about union membership that’s best for them, including identifying non-union alternatives that better suit their needs.” [National Employee Freedom Week, Accessed 8/16/16]

National Employee Freedom Week Said That It Was A Coalition Of 102 Organizations In 42 States. According to National Employee Freedom Week, “National Employee Freedom Week is a coalition of 102 organizations in 42 states.” [National Employee Freedom Week, Accessed 8/16/16]

National Employee Freedom Week Went From August 14^th To August 20^th In 2016. [National Employee Freedom Week, Accessed 8/16/16]

Koch Connected Groups With National Employee Freedom Week

The Founding Partners Of The National Employee Freedom Week Were Members Of The Koch Backed State Policy Network

The National Employee Freedom Week Listed “Who’s In” On Their Campaign; Named The Nevada Policy Research Institute And The Association Of American Educators The Founding Partners. [National Employee Freedom Week, Accessed 8/16/16]

The Association Of American Educators Foundation

The Association Of American Educators Foundation Was A State Policy Network Member. [State Policy Network, Accessed 8/16/16]

Between 2007 And 2010, The Association Of American Educators Foundation Received At Least $7,300 From Koch-Backed DonorsTrust. According to Conservative Transparency, between 2006 and 2010, the Association of American Educators Foundation received at least $7,300 from DonorsTrust. This information is further detailed in the following table:

[Conservative Transparency, Accessed 8/16/16]

The Nevada Policy Research Institute

The Nevada Policy Research Institute Was A State Policy Network Member. [State Policy Network, Accessed 8/16/16]

Between 2005 And 2014, Koch Connected Groups Gave The Nevada Policy Research Institute At Least $1,495,932. According to Conservative Transparency between 2005 and 2014 Koch connected groups gave the Nevada Policy Research Institute at least $1,495,932. This information is further detailed in the following table:

[Conservative Transparency, Accessed 8/16/16]

SPN Received Over $17 Million From Koch Connected Groups

The State Policy Network Received At Least $17 Million From Donors Capital Fund Between 2002 And 2014. According to Donors Capital Fund tax documents, State Policy Network received $17,916,124 from Donors Capital Fund between 2002 and 2014. [Donors Capital Fund Forms 990 via Conservative Transparency, 2002-2014]

The State Policy Network Received $34,423 From The Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation Between 2012 And 2014. According to Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation tax documents, the organization granted $34,423 to the State Policy Network between 2012 and 2014. [Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation IRS Forms 990 via Conservative Transparency, accessed 2/23/16]

All But 7 Of The Groups Partnering For The National Employee Freedom Week Had Some Affiliation With The Koch Network

State Policy Network Members

• Alabama Policy Institute
• Americans for Prosperity Foundation
• Association of American Educators Foundation
• Beacon Center of Tennessee
• Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions
• The Buckeye Institute
• Cascade Policy Institute
• Center of the American Experiment
• Civitas Institute
• Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives
• Competitive Enterprise Institute
• Empower Mississippi Foundation
• Ethan Allen Institute
• Freedom Foundation (Washington)
• Freedom Foundation of Minnesota
• Georgia Public Policy Foundation
• Goldwater Institute
• Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
• Heartland Institute
• Heritage Foundation
• Idaho Freedom Foundation
• Illinois Policy Institute
• Independence Institute
• James Madison Institute
• John Locke Foundation
• Kansas Policy Institute
• MacIver Institute for Public Policy
• Mackinac Center for Public Policy
• Maine Heritage Policy Center
• Mississippi Center for Public Policy
• National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation
• National Taxpayers Union Foundation
• Nevada Policy Research Institute
• Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
• Palmetto Promise Institute
• Pelican Institute for Public Policy
• Pioneer Institute
• Platte Institute for Economic Research
• Public Interest Institute
• Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity
• Rio Grande Foundation
• Show-Me Institute
• Texas Public Policy Foundation
• Virginia Institute for Public Policy
• Washington Policy Center
• Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
• Yankee Institute for Public Policy

Receive Koch Funding But Aren’t SPN Members

• Americans for Limited Government
• Center for Union Facts
• Education Action Group
• FreedomWorks
• National Right to Work Committee

Loosely-Affiliated Koch Groups

• Arizona Free Enterprise Club (plaintiffin a public financing case brought by Institute for Justice and Goldwater)
• California Teachers Empowerment Network (2010 donationfrom Association of American Educators)
• Capitol Resource Institute (former SPN member)
• Citizen Outreach (small amountof CPPR, DCF, Franklin Center funding pre-2012)
• Christian Educators Association International (Friedrichs plaintiff)
• The Fairness Center (Commonwealth Foundation’s Matthew Brouillette is on the board)
• Liberty Justice Center (CKI partner organization)
• Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance (hiredHeritage lobbyist Laurie Belsito)
• National Institute for Labor Relations Research (affiliatedwith NRTW Legal Defense Foundation)
• Northwest Professional Educators (2010 donationfrom Association of American Educators)
• Oregon Capitol Watch Foundation (ledby former AFP-OR state director)
• Professional Educators of Tennessee (collaboratedwith Beacon Center on anti-union op-eds and lobbying)

Non-Koch Related

• Alabama Conference of Educators
• Arkansas State Teachers Association
• Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana
• Pennsylvania Right to Work, Inc.
• Professional Association of Colorado Educators
• Professional Educators of Iowa
• Workforce Fairness Institute

Koch Groups Messaging On Employee Freedom Week

AFP Touted Employee Freedom Week While Attacking Teachers Unions

As A Part Of “Employee Freedom Week” AFP Touted Its Work To Advance “Right To Work” And Featured Policy Director Akash Chougule On Its Prosperity Podcast” To Discuss “Why Educating Employees Around The Country About Their Rights Is So Vital.” According to a post on the Americans for Prosperity website, “Thanks to the work of groups like Americans for Prosperity, the nation now has 26 Right to Work states. Despite these victories for employee freedom, many workers don’t know the rights they have when it comes to opting out of certain dues or unions all together. Director of Policy Akash Chougule joins the podcast to talk about why educating employees around the country about their rights is so vital.” The post was titled “Prosperity Podcast: Employee Freedom Week.” [Americans for Prosperity, 8/15/16]

AFP Policy Director Akash Chougule: National Employee Freedom Week Was Run By The Nevada Policy Research Institute, Which Did A Study Of Union Households Across The Country Finding That 39% Of Union Households Didn’t Know They Could Opt Out Of Union Dues, Fees And Obligations Without Penalty. According to an interview with AFP policy director Akash Chougule on the Americans for Prosperity website, “Now, the group that actually runs National Employee Freedom Week, which is the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a state-based think tank out in Nevada— they’ve done a study of union households across the country and, nationally, 39% of union households didn’t know that this right was available to them. And the numbers vary in some states— They go as high as 60% union households in some states don’t know that you can opt out of union dues, fees and obligations and still be able to keep your job without penalty.” [Americans for Prosperity, 8/15/16]

• Chougule: “Unions Obviously Don’t Want Workers To Know That This Option Is Available To Them Because They Want To Be Able To Keep Their Membership, Keep Those Dues Flowing In And Those Are Dues And Fees That They Use To Advance The Union’s Political Agenda, Funding Union Boss Salaries, Pushing Left-Wing Politics.” According to an interview with AFP policy director Akash Chougule on the Americans for Prosperity website, “Now, the group that actually runs National Employee Freedom Week, which is the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a state-based think tank out in Nevada— they’ve done a study of union households across the country and, nationally, 39% of union households didn’t know that this right was available to them. And the numbers vary in some states— They go as high as 60% union households in some states don’t know that you can opt out of union dues, fees and obligations and still be able to keep your job without penalty. And here is the reason why: Because the unions bury these clauses deep inside their 50, 60, 70, 80 page collective bargaining agreements that this is a possibility for workers. Unions obviously don’t want workers to know that this option is available to them because they want to be able to keep their membership, keep those dues flowing in and those are dues and fees that they use to advance the union’s political agenda, funding union boss salaries, pushing left-wing politics that a lot of union members might actually find objectionable.” [Americans for Prosperity, 8/15/16]
• Chougule: The Option To Opt Out Of Union Dues Was Limited To Very Short Opt-Out Windows— “At Americans For Prosperity, We Think It’s Absurd That School Districts And Unions Are Able To Place These Arbitrary Limits On When Teachers And Workers Can Exercise Their First Amendment Rights.” According to an interview with AFP policy director Akash Chougule on the Americans for Prosperity website, “And the numbers vary in some states— They go as high as 60% union households in some states don’t know that you can opt out of union dues, fees and obligations and still be able to keep your job without penalty. And here is the reason why: Because the unions bury these clauses deep inside their 50, 60, 70, 80 page collective bargaining agreements that this is a possibility for workers. […] Here’s the other part of it that’s really, really important: In so many districts and states across the country, teachers and workers could only exercise this option to opt out of union dues during very short opt-out windows. Just to give you a couple of examples, in Clark County, Nevada, which is where the Las Vegas school district is, teachers could only opt out of their union dues from July 1^stto July 15^th. Obviously, that’s right in the middle of the hot summer when many teachers are on vacation or they’re out of town. […] Now, at Americans for Prosperity, we think it’s absurd that school districts and unions are able to place these arbitrary limits on when teachers and workers can exercise their first amendment rights to free speech and freedom of association.” [Americans for Prosperity, 8/15/16]

AFP Iowa

AFP-Iowa Announced It Was Beginning National Economic Freedom Week With A Reminder To Teachers In Iowa That They Have The Option Not To Join The Teachers Union As Part Of National Employee Freedom Week. According to a post on the Americans for Prosperity website, “Americans for Prosperity-Iowa is beginning National Economic Freedom Week (NEFW) with a reminder to teachers in Iowa that they have the option not to join the Teachers Union. The effort is part of National Employee Freedom Week (NEFW), an annual national campaign that informs union members about their workplace rights, specifically their right to leave their union. NEFW runs Sunday, August 14th through Saturday, August 20th and consists of over 100 organizations in 35 states.” [Americans for Prosperity, 8/15/16]

AFP-IA Director Drew Kline: In Iowa, As A Right-To-Work State, “The Union Cannot Fire Or Impose Penalties On Any Worker For Not Paying The Union. If Union Employees Decide That Union Membership Gives Them Enough Bang For Their Buck, That’s Great, But They Should Know That Other Options Are Available.” According to a post on the Americans for Prosperity website, “Americans for Prosperity-Iowa state director Drew Klein had the following statement: ‘National Economic Freedom Week is the perfect opportunity to remind teachers in Iowa that they have options when it comes to joining a union. Iowa teachers should know their rights, which include the option to opt out of their union membership. Though this freedom to opt out of union dues is available to all Iowans, this information isn’t typically made readily available by labor unions. Often, it’s buried deep in lengthy collective bargaining contracts. Iowa’s status as a Right-to-Work state means that the union cannot fire or impose penalties on any worker for not paying the union. If union employees decide that union membership gives them enough bang for their buck, that’s great, but they should know that other options are available. We are letting the secret out that Iowans have more control of their hard-earned money than they might realize when it comes to unions.’” [Americans for Prosperity, 8/15/16]

Kline Wrote An Op-Ed Questioning If The Iowa Teachers Union’s Political Action Committee Reflected The Beliefs Of Its Members, With More Than $1.2 Million In Contributions To Candidates And Political Parties Since 2012 And Only $250 Going To A Non-Democrat And More Than $1.1 Million Going Directly To The Iowa Democratic Party. According to an opinion by AFP-Iowa Director Drew Kline in the Des Moines Register, “The Iowa State Education Association, more commonly known as the Iowa teachers union, claims to represent 34,000 teachers across our state. The question is, does their political action committee reflect the beliefs of those members? Since January of 2012, the ISEA PAC has donated more than $1.2 million to candidates and political parties. Of that, only $250 has gone to a candidate not running as a Democrat and more than $1.1 million has gone directly to the Iowa Democratic Party. ISEA PAC is funded in part by the dues of its members. Iowa teachers should know their rights, which include the option to opt out of their union membership. Furthermore, Iowa’s status as a ‘Right-to-Work’ state means that the union cannot fire or impose penalties on any worker for not paying the union.” [Drew Kline – Des Moines Register, 8/15/16]

• Kline: “More Than One In Four Union Members Nationwide Would Terminate Their Union Membership If They Could Keep Their Job And Not Face Any Penalty. Over The Past Few Years, Many Have Done Just That, And Likely Many More Would Do So If They Knew The Option Were Available To Them.” According to an opinion by AFP-Iowa Director Drew Kline in the Des Moines Register, “A new survey of union members published this week by the NEFW coalition found that more than one in four union members nationwide would terminate their union membership if they could keep their job and not face any penalty. Over the past few years, many have done just that, and likely many more would do so if they knew the option were available to them.” [Drew Kline – Des Moines Register, 8/15/16]
• Kline: “Some Who Choose Not To Opt Out Of The Union Say They Stay For The Insurance Or Other Protections The Union Offers. But… For As Little As $20 Per Month, Teachers Can Join The American Association Of Educators Or The Professional Educators Of Iowa — Far Less Than The Cost Of Union Membership.” According to an opinion by AFP-Iowa Director Drew Kline in the Des Moines Register, “In 2008, 12.4 percent of the workforce were members of a union. Now, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union membership is 11.1 percent. For most Iowa teachers, forgoing union membership would save them nearly $1,000 annually. That’s a lot of money that could be put toward groceries, utilities, or a family vacation. Some who choose not to opt out of the union say they stay for the insurance or other protections the union offers. But there are other options that provide similar products and services. For as little as $20 per month, teachers can join the American Association of Educators or the Professional Educators of Iowa — far less than the cost of union membership.” [Drew Kline – Des Moines Register, 8/15/16]

AFP New Hampshire

AFP-NH director Greg Moore Promoted “National Employee Freedom Week,” Saying It Was “Time To Make NH The 27th Right To Work State & Give Freedom To Choose To Employees.” According to a tweet by AFP-NH director Greg Moore, “Happy National Employee Freedom Week! Time to make NH the 27th #RightToWork state & give freedom to choose to employees.” [Greg Moore – Twitter, 8/15/16]

AFP New Jersey

AFP-NJ: “New Jersey Teachers Belong To The New Jersey Education Association, And They Charge $840 Per Year,” Which Includes Costs Of Lobbying And Political Initiatives. According to a post on the Americans for Prosperity website, “Are you a teacher? Do you have friends or family members that are teachers? Have you looked at what a full-time teacher is forced to pay to the union every year? New Jersey teachers belong to the New Jersey Education Association, and they charge $840 per year. What do teachers receive for that money? Collective bargaining and contract administration are included, but that money also includes lobbying and political initiatives. Many teachers also send their hard earned dollars to the union’s Political Action Committee, and they may not even know it.” [Americans for Prosperity, 8/15/16]

• AFP-NJ Released A List Of Steps To Take “If You Or Someone You Know Is Interested In Saving Money And No Longer Wishes To Support The Union Political Agenda.” According to a post on the Americans for Prosperity website, “If you or someone you know is interested in saving money and no longer wishes to support the union political agenda, simply follow these steps to become an agency fee payer: 1. Ask your union representative for a copy of your enrollment documents, and the form TM NJEA APD Membership Dues Termination. The upcoming deadline is January 1, 2017. 2. Next you must inform the NJEA in writing that you are resigning your membership. Fill out and submit the Membership Dues Termination form along with the generic agency fee request form. Make sure that you send it using Certified Mail and ask for a return signature, so that you can be sure it is received by the union. You should also notify the School District payroll department by sending the same letter. 3. Set a calendar reminder for next year, so that your wishes to remain an agency fee payer continue to be respected by the union. This process must be completed annually. If you want to become a conscience objector, you can go to ChooseCharity.org and submit the free-application.” [Americans for Prosperity, 8/15/16]

The Franklin Center’s President Wrote An Opinion Piece Attacking Teachers Unions For Advancing At The Cost Of Classroom Resources

Franklin Center President Nicole Neily Wrote That When Seeking To Confront A $10.5 Million Deficit The Buffalo School Board Attempted To Reallocate Funds From $5 Million Set Aside For Plastic Surgery Coverage, But The Buffalo Teachers Federation Fought This And Put The Rider On Hold. According to an opinion by president of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity Nicole Neily for the Buffalo News, “It’s common sense that when faced with a budget deficit, it’s time to find ways to cut unnecessary spending. So when the Buffalo School Board needed to confront a $10.5 million deficit, that’s what it tried to do. It identified low-hanging fruit: a $5 million set-aside for plastic surgery coverage for teachers. Surely teachers could do without taxpayer-funded tummy tucks and face-lifts – particularly if it meant the children of Buffalo would have a sufficiently funded education. Right? Wrong. The Buffalo Teachers Federation took the issue to court and won a temporary injunction allowing the cosmetic surgery rider to continue through the summer, effectively putting the rider on hold until an arbiter can make a decision on the union’s grievance (or the board backs down).” [Nicole Neily – Buffalo News,8/14/16]

Neily Argued This Was Just One Example From Across The Country Where “Teachers Unions Are Prioritizing Their Own Interests, Even When It Diverts Resources Away From The Classroom And Leaves Local Taxpayers In The Lurch.” According to an opinion by president of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity Nicole Neily for the Buffalo News, “Funny enough, union leaders said they would be willing to give up the rider through negotiations for a new contract, but they haven’t come to the table to negotiate a new contract since 2004. What’s not so funny, though, is that taxpayers have been forking over some $5 million every year for the rider. A 2012 article in the Atlantic found that 100 teacher layoffs could potentially have been prevented if the union had agreed to suspend the rider for just one year. The Buffalo teachers union’s attempt to cling to the cosmetic surgery rider at the expense of educating children verges on the farcical, but it represents an unfortunate pattern of behavior. All around the country, teachers unions are prioritizing their own interests, even when it diverts resources away from the classroom and leaves local taxpayers in the lurch.” [Nicole Neily – Buffalo News, 8/14/16]

• Neily Cited An Example Of A School District In Chicago Receiving A “Costly Bailout” And The Chicago Teachers Union Being The One Group “Yet To Feel Pain And Join In The Spirit Of Shared Sacrifice.” According to an opinion by president of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity Nicole Neily for the Buffalo News, “In Chicago, for example, the State Legislature recently inked a deal to pick up $200 million in pension costs and direct $100 million to Chicago Public Schools. The district is on the brink of financial ruin. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner is surely feeling the pain (along with Illinois taxpayers) of providing this costly bailout to the school district before it could get its own house in order. It was a political sacrifice. But as the editorial board of the Chicago Sun-Times pointed out, the one group that has yet to feel the pain and join in the spirit of shared sacrifice is the Chicago Teachers Union. ‘The contours of a fair new union contract have been on the table for months,’ the editorial board wrote, ticking off a list of benefits: ‘It provides net raises to teachers over four years, phases out over two years a 7 percent pension contribution that CPS [Chicago Public Schools] now makes on members’ behalf, and reinstates ‘step and lane’ raises based on a teacher’s continuing education and experience.’ Yet the union wants more, and has threatened to strike if it doesn’t get it.” [Nicole Neily – Buffalo News, 8/14/16]
• Neily Cited Additional Examples Of A Teachers Union In Philadelphia Complaining Because Of “New Recruits” Getting Jobs Before “Veteran Teachers” And Of The Florida Education Association Filing A Lawsuit To Try To Prevent A Tax Credit Scholarships For Students In Nonpublic Schools. According to an opinion by president of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity Nicole Neily for the Buffalo News, “Similar examples of this kind of behavior, prioritizing the union’s interests over what’s best for students, have popped up in Philadelphia, where the teachers union complained about how the school district filled a remarkable 99 percent of teaching vacancies because many new recruits got jobs before veteran teachers; and in Florida, where the state’s largest teachers union, the Florida Education Association, filed a lawsuit to try to shut down a tax credit scholarship program that funds scholarships for roughly 80,000 students in secular and parochial nonpublic schools. A judge ruled that the plaintiffs had no standing to sue, but the union has vowed to take the lawsuit all the way to the State Supreme Court.” [Nicole Neily – Buffalo News, 8/14/16]

Neily Argued That The Teachers Union “Walk-Ins” In February 2015 “Amounted To An Assertion Of Union Power” And Were Focused On “Jabs At Charter Schools” And “Ginning Up Support For More Spending On Public Education.” According to an opinion by president of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity Nicole Neily for the Buffalo News, “The teachers union agenda was perhaps most painfully apparent during the ‘walk-ins’ that unions and their supporters staged across the country last February. The demonstrations were ostensibly focused on ginning up support for more spending on public education, but organizers took plenty of jabs at charter schools despite their successes and cost-effectiveness (and despite the fact that charters are actually public schools, too). In other words, the walk-ins amounted to an assertion of union power, which is the real issue at stake here.” [Nicole Neily – Buffalo News, 8/14/16]

Neily: “Teachers Are Not Selfish” And “It’s Time For The Bureaucratic Unions Representing Them To Start Reflecting Their Members’ Selfless Ambitions.” According to an opinion by president of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity Nicole Neily for the Buffalo News, “It doesn’t have to be like this. Consider what recently happened in Madison, Wis., where Act 10 has given school districts the authority to change health benefits for teachers without interference from the union. Four years ago, the Madison teachers union staged a ‘sickout’ in protest of Act 10 when it was moving through the legislature, shutting down schools for four days. But when the Madison School Board decided last June to have teachers start paying a small percentage of their health care premiums, it met minimal resistance. Only one teacher showed up to voice opposition. Teachers are not selfish. They get into their profession not for the money or the perks but to prepare children of the next generation to lead successful and fulfilling lives. It’s time for the bureaucratic unions representing them to start reflecting their members’ selfless ambitions.” [Nicole Neily – Buffalo News, 8/14/16]

The Franklin Received Over $31 Million From Koch Connected Groups

Between 2009 And 2014, Koch Connected Groups Gave At Least $31,465,391 To The Franklin Center For Government & Public Integrity. According to Conservative Transparency, between 2009 and 2014 Koch connected groups gave at least $31,465,391 to the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity. This information is further detailed in the following table: