Sacramento, California (October 6, 2005) – The National Right to Work Foundation today announced that State Senator Tom McClintock will help conduct a statewide public information blitz to immediately inform teachers and other public employees of their basic right to political autonomy which is under attack by union officials. As part of the campaign, McClintock is rushing to a recording studio to cut a radio ad today.

The announcement comes on the heels of yesterday’s U.S. District Court ruling not to issue a temporary restraining order to immediately freeze forced union dues seizures from teachers statewide spent for politics until due process was given. The class-action lawsuit filed by teachers and faculty continues to seek a ruling that union officials must notify educators of their right to resign from formal union membership and refuse to pay the mandatory dues increase. The $60 per capita increase is earmarked for the unions’ $60 million campaign to influence the special election.

Since the educators filed their suit, California Teacher Association (CTA) union officials have already backpedaled and indicated they will now, in fact, allow non-union members to get their $60 back this fall. But, at the same time, union officials stand firm in refusing even to inform their 300,000+ members of their right to resign and object. Members have never been notified of such rights.

“Since the court will not take swift action to order union officials to inform union members of their rights, this informational campaign will help pick up the slack,” said Stefan Gleason, Vice President of the Foundation. “Union officials have been fighting tooth and nail to keep teachers in the dark. They naturally fear a revolt from teachers opposing the union hierarchy’s extraordinary $60 million campaign this fall.”

The radio ad being recorded by Senator McClintock and the lead plaintiff Judy Liegmann, a 5th grade teacher, informs the public of the extraordinary dues increase for politics and of teachers’ right to reclaim such dues. Aside from making a statewide advertising buy, the National Right to Work Foundation is now distributing radio public service announcements across California, establishing a special web-site which provides teachers with information on how to object and reclaim their dues, and scheduling regional informational forums throughout the state.

A sworn declaration filed by the CTA’s accountant in recent days reveals that the union has already spent the $60 million raised by the union’s three-year dues increase and is attempting to secure an additional $40 million loan. Union officials’ spending of teachers’ forced union dues could approach $100 million before the special election next month.

“California’s classroom teachers should not be forced to serve as ATM machines for union officials,” said Gleason.

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in more than 250 cases nationwide per year.