AFTRA

News Release: Union Forced Dues Threats against WRTV Anchor Highlight Need for Indiana Right to Work Law

Will Collins — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:27:54 -0400

Union Forced Dues Threats against WRTV Anchor Highlight Need for Indiana Right to Work Law

Union hit with federal labor board charges for demanding TV anchor pay union dues despite lack of valid contract between her employer and the union

Indianapolis, IN (May 19, 2011) – With free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation, WRTV anchor Patricia Shepherd has filed federal unfair labor practice charges against the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) union.

Conflict of Interest? The News Media and Forced Unionism

Nick Cote — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:05:50 -0500

At The Daily Caller, the anonymous Anchorman -- "a well-known news anchor from a top-10, big-city news station" -- brings up an interesting point about his colleagues' political coverage. The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) union "represents" most television network news correspondents and anchors. That "representation" includes political advocacy, including as the anchorman points out, lobbying efforts on the health care / forced unionization legislation currently pending in Congress.

R.I.P.: William F. Buckley Jr. - Foe of Forced Unionism

Justin Hakes — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:16:12 -0500

Today's regretful passing of commentator William F. Buckley Jr. reminds us of how Mr. Buckley stood up to compulsory unionism with help from the National Right to Work Foundation several decades back. George Leef details the fight in pages 160-162 of Free Choice for Workers: A History of the Right to Work Movement.

After American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union officials told Mr. Buckley to join the union and pay up if he wanted to voice his opinions over the airwaves, he fought back in the form of a Foundation-aided lawsuit.

Though the case was batted between the courts and National Labor Relations Board, it ultimately led the AFTRA union to stop requiring formal membership from employees. (However, it could still compel dues from employees.)

Despite this, Mr. Buckley voiced satisfaction at his case's achievement. Mr. Leef cites:

Summing up his case, William F. Buckley Jr. wrote in his sydicated column, 'Thanks to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which funded this case...employees are precisely not bound to obey the union's rules any long, and the First Amendment has won a significant victory.'

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