Currently, the State of Wisconsin automatically deducts union dues from public employee paychecks and it goes to the unions. The unions then use as much of the money as the leaders wish to give to candidates who will look favorably on their demands (almost always Democrats). Thus, the taxpayers are subsidizing partisan election donations.
This “closed shop” arrangement would change under the new law. Once it passed the state would no longer deduct union dues from paychecks. Employees would only pay dues voluntarily by signing a union card. The unions would have to go through the process of collecting the dues. This would increase their administrative costs and thus reduce the amount of money available for campaign donations. And, the union leaders would have to persuade employees of the value of joining. That’s a lot more work than sitting back and staring at the ceiling while a trove of dues comes pouring in from the state.
The legislation would require each public employee union to hold an annual election to see if a majority of the members want to continue to be represented by it. If they do, it continues; if not, it’s pffft to the union leaders and their comfy incomes.
Some of the demonstrators at the capitol in Madison have hollered about collective bargaining as a “basic right.” Not really. Not only is it not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, but also nearly half the states have “open shops” with no collective bargaining (or permit it only for first responders).