Union Spending on Political Activities Reaches $915 Million
The four largest public sector unions in the U.S. have invested approximately $915 million in elections and progressive political activities during the 2024 election cycle. A significant 86% of this spending was funded through member dues.
A report recently released by the Commonwealth Foundation, a nonprofit based in Pennsylvania advocating for free-market policies, has shed light on this substantial spending. The report specifically highlights the political expenditures of the National Education Association (NEA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the American Federation of State, County, and City Employees (AFSCME). Notably, a similar report from the 2022 election cycle indicated that these unions collectively spent $708 million on progressive causes.
This latest report raises concerns about how these unions prioritize political agendas over the direct needs of their members, particularly with such a high percentage of funding derived from dues. According to public sector union expert Aaron Withe, “The aim of these political investments is to place individuals in power who will likely increase taxes and expand government,” which he argues has been a persistent trend for decades.
Withe, who critiques both public and private sector unions, mentions that while private sector unions have their incentive structures tied to corporate profits, public sector unions actually benefit from tax increases and government expansion.
David Osborne, a senior director at the Commonwealth Foundation and co-author of the report, poses an important question: Are union members aware of how their dues are allocated? He notes that traditionally, union members expected their leaders to focus dues on providing services like contract negotiations and grievance processing. However, many are now, perhaps unknowingly, supporting candidates and causes they might not agree with, such as abortion and critical race theory.
The report indicates that out of the $915 million, only about 25%, or $642 million, was allocated to activities directly associated with representing members. Conversely, around 33%, or $845 million, was spent on general operational costs, such as administrative expenses and staff benefits. Notably, spending on elections and progressive political causes surpassed these categories, with about $755 million directed toward federal elections, and state affiliates added approximately $160 million for local races and related ideological initiatives. Of this, $650 million—or 86%—was sourced from member dues.
The funding structure also allows for voluntary political action committee (PAC) deductions from members, aimed at raising separate funds for direct candidate contributions. However, the report states that only 14% of the unions’ political spending came from PACs.
The Commonwealth Foundation’s report highlights a troubling tendency: union leaders increasingly depend on dues for political spending rather than using PAC funds. This reliance underscores a lack of accountability among union executives regarding the management of members’ dues, as many members remain unaware of how much of their money is being directed toward political activities.
Attempts to seek comments from the NEA, AFT, SEIU, and AFSCME went unanswered before publication.
