Direct the National Right To Work Committee to fight on

From The National Right To Work Committee:

I'll get right to the point.

Fighting the Obama Administration's power grabs for Big Labor is taxing the National Right to Work Foundation's resources like never before.

Powerful union officials and their government allies are fuming mad at the hard-fought battles opponents of forced unionism have won in recent years, and they're using every trick in the book not only to take back lost ground, but also to expand their forced-dues power.

That means you and I face some difficult decisions going forward.

First, the good news.

As a result of your ongoing support of our Right to Work programs, more and more Americans are waking up to just how dangerous Big Labor's $20 BILLION compulsory unionism empire is . . .

. . . How it corrupts our politics, strangles the economy, fleeces taxpayers, mocks our Constitution and empowers union bosses to strip precious wages from hardworking men and women.

In fact, this year, Wisconsin became the 25th Right to Work state and the third state in the last three years to end compulsory unionism for most workers.

Not only that, with your support, our Foundation won yet another precedent at the U.S. Supreme Court last June with the Harris case.

You may recall that Harris involved Illinois in-home care providers corralled into forced-dues-paying ranks by disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich and his successor, Pat Quinn.

Under their scheme, caregivers were reclassified as "state employees" solely for the purpose of monopoly bargaining.

You see, Big Labor wanted a cut of the subsidy these individuals receive to take care of the sick and disabled, oftentimes members of their families.

Foundation staff attorneys continue the work to enforce and expand that critical victory.

But, in the face of their recent setbacks, forced-unionism advocates aren't throwing in the towel.

On the contrary, with BILLIONS of forced-dues dollars at stake, the union bosses are redoubling efforts to reclaim lost ground and expand their forced-unionism privileges.

And they have a powerful ally in the Obama National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which just declared war on all state Right to Work laws.

In fact, the so-called "Fee for Grievance" scheme the NLRB is intent on approving is designed to gut all 25 state Right to Work laws, condemning tens of thousands of workers to forced-dues servitude .

A Foundation client and I were invited to testify at a Congressional hearing on this issue earlier this month.

That's why your Right to Work Foundation's work is so critical.

The fact is, taking on the out-of-control NLRB is just one of the fronts we're fighting.

With nearly 200 active cases right now, here's just a glimpse of what Foundation attorneys are working on:

*** Five federal lawsuits designed to build on the reasoning the U.S. Supreme Court gave in our Harris and Knox precedents with the goal of ending other government-granted Big Labor forced unionism schemes, including union bosses power to extract forced dues from public employees.

*** Scores of cases attacking Big Labor's use of forced dues to fund its political machine -- vitally important now as union operatives are already gearing up to install another puppet politician in the White House and take back the U.S. Senate.

*** Challenges to the aggressive compulsory unionism policies pushed by Obama appointees in the executive branch, including the Department of Labor and NLRB.

*** Critical cases defending and enforcing state Right to Work protections, especially in the newest Right to Work states: Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Here's the rub. Your Foundation continues to operate on a tight budget in 2015, and it's crucial we allocate our resources to cover all our bases.

Soon, I'll sit down with the five-member Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees to decide whether changes must be made in the Foundation's program budget.

But before I do, I'd like to have your guidance and help.

Can you spare just a few minutes of your time and fill out your Supporter Directive?

You see, right now choices must be made among certain priorities in our program. And I'm asking your advice before I act.

The fact is, I'd rather scale back in a few fights (even though we believe we could win!) than get stretched too thin.

Here's an in-depth view of some of the most important fights the Foundation is waging right now:

>>> Pushing forward with cutting-edge cases that directly challenge the constitutionality of forced union dues for all public employees.

In our most recent Supreme Court victories, the Justices indicated that they may be open to repealing all forced dues in the government sector, and Foundation staff attorneys are working on filing a brief in one such challenge right now.

>>> Attacking forced-dues-for-politics schemes and illegal diversion of union money into partisan politics.

After all, you and I know we can't just trust union bosses to voluntarily comply with Foundation-won precedents that protect employees from forced-dues-for-politics schemes.

>>> Defending workers from Big Labor's aggressive Top Down Forced Unionism strategy.

Utilizing new Obama NLRB rules, Big Labor is expanding its aggressive organizing tactics to push more workers into forced-unionism ranks, including quick-snap elections and "Card Check."

>>> Bolstering our outreach program. The impact of our legal victories is limited if workers aren't informed.

Our informational campaigns ensure workers harmed by Organized Labor's forced-dues schemes know they have an ally in the fight to resist union boss subjugation.

I'm sure you can see why now would be a terrible time to throttle back our efforts.

But I need input from our supporters detailing where you want the Foundation to focus our efforts.

So please submit your Confidential Supporter Directive right away.

The fact is, in the coming months, Big Labor will unleash their multi-billion dollar, forced-dues-funded political warchest to maintain their iron-fisted control of the White House, recapture the U.S. Senate and take over state legislatures and governors' mansions nationwide.

But your Foundation is hitting back hard -- fighting forced-dues-for-politics schemes in state courts and agencies, in federal courts and at the NLRB.

With the union bosses using their political clout to launch still more power grabs, it's vital that you and I not let up now.

I hope you understand what a profound threat opponents of forced unionism face.

Time after time, you have loyally stood with the Right to Work Foundation as we have fought pivotal battles.

After all you and I have achieved, it would be a devastating blow to have to pull back -- especially now when our achievements hold the promise of attracting new supporters to our cause.

In fact, national leaders including Steve Forbes and U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) are helping in a nationwide campaign to build new support for Right to Work. But identifying and recruiting new supporters takes resources, too.

So, along with your completed Supporter Directive, I hope I can count on your most generous tax-deductible contribution right away.

You see, with the spate of Right to Work victories, union officials are pressing harder and in more sophisticated ways to expand their forced-dues empire.

That's why it's vital the Right to Work Foundation keep up the fight on all fronts.

And why your completed Supporter Directive is so important.

At this moment, Foundation attorneys are representing tens of thousands of employees in nearly 200 active legal aid cases.

Each case is unique, and vital precedents are at stake. It is difficult to consider abandoning any of them.

But fighting all the battles I've described will cost an estimated $4,960,000 through the end of the year.

And, if the Foundation is not in a strong position, there's no doubt Big Labor will be all the more eager to launch new attacks on America's workers or on the Foundation itself.

The fact is, for many years, the National Right to Work Foundation has stood in the breach. And you've stood with us.

Now, I'm writing to you and all of the Foundation's best supporters because, according to my calculations, if you and our other most generous supporters gave a tax-deductible gift of $20 to the Foundation today, it would be enough to fully fund the rest of our 2015 program.

I realize that $20 is a lot to ask, but too much is at stake not to ask.

Unfortunately, I know a few people won't or can't give at all right now, and I understand that.

They will count on others to carry their load. Some folks may set this letter aside (despite the urgency) and forget to send a contribution.

That's why, if you can, please consider sending a $30 contribution today to fund our vital programs.

It could be that's more than you've given in a single gift before, but I hope you will seriously consider this request.

More than anything, your investment is a testament to just how critical the Foundation's ongoing projects are.

If I can count on generous donors like you to give such a contribution now, I could put aside any thoughts of scaling back our program and focus on challenging Big Labor's forced-dues assaults.

You see, with your investment, the Foundation can maintain and hopefully even increase its aggressive attack on Big Labor's compulsory unionism schemes.

If, for some reason, you just can't send $30 today, please give at least $20 or whatever you can afford right away.

Whether you send $30 or $20 -- or if a lesser amount is the most you can do -- please fill out and return your Confidential Supporter Directive giving me your advice, and be as generous as you are able.

Please, help today. Your support will make a real difference.

Sincerely,

Mark Mix

P.S. Your National Right to Work Foundation stands in the breach, protecting the right of all Americans to be free from union boss tyranny.

Yet at this crucial moment, I fear the Foundation may not have the resources needed to fight all the threats you and I face.

So, your advice today is critical. Please submit your Confidential Supporter Directive and return it to me at once along with your most generous tax-deductible contribution of $30 to fund our vital programs.

Big Cable files lawsuits against the FCC

From Demand Progress:

The FCC just got hit with the SEVENTH lawsuit to block its new Net Neutrality rules.1

Lawsuits have been filed by AT&T. Verizon. Comcast's lobbyists. The list goes on. And even more lawsuits could be on the way.

Facing this almost unprecedented avalanche of lawsuits, Demand Progress is thinking about doing something big: formally intervening in the lawsuit in support of Net Neutrality.

We can help the FCC show in court how much public support there is for Net Neutrality, and there are several factors that we are weighing as we make a decision about intervening. But before we can even think about moving forward we need to make sure we have the resources to cover legal costs.

Will you chip in $5 to help Demand Progress defend the FCC's historic Net Neutrality rule?

The FCC received more than 3.7 million public comments on Net Neutrality, with less than 1 percent opposed.2 And yet telecom lawyers are saying that the FCC ignored public input on this decision.3

It’s ludicrous—and as one of the leading groups that helped mobilize the public, we can help show in court how strongly the public supports Net Neutrality.

Comcast and the other big telecommunications companies have virtually unlimited amounts of money to spend on armies of lawyers—and even if they lose, they might be able to keep things tied up in court long enough for a new president or Congress to come along and overturn the decision before it goes into effect.

We’ve come too far to allow Net Neutrality to be overturned by corporate lawyers. Will you chip in to help defend our historic Net Neutrality victory?

Yes, I'll chip in$5 to help defend Net Neutrality.

Thanks.

--Demand Progress

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Tell Congress to honor Net Neutrality

From Fight For The Future:

BREAKING: Congress is moving to kill net neutrality using a special measure known as the Congressional Review Act. We have to stop it.

Just weeks ago, we won at the FCC. But since then, it’s just been open season on net neutrality. Two anti-net neutrality bills, five lawsuits1, and now this.

If we can't change Congress’s direction on net neutrality, we’ll lose it forever. But to do that, we need to build a grassroots army stronger than anything Comcast has seen before.

Will you chip in $20 to get Congress to back off, for good?

Yes, I'll chip in $20 to help save Net Neutrality.

If Comcast wins back the power to slow some sites and speed up others, they can hold the Internet hostage and make billions. So they’re fighting hard.

And unlike a normal bill, a CRA can pass fast with a simple majority vote: no filibuster, no hearings.2 Sure, it can be vetoed, but that is a false sense of security.

The truth is, we have no idea who will be President in two years. We have to take a stand now, in Congress.

Make no mistake: these politicians are on thin ice and they know it. They’ve received millions of dollars from companies everyone hates, to break the websites people love. But the truth won’t save us if nobody hears it. We need to sound the alarm.

Will you chip in $20, so that we can take a stand *now*?

Yes, I'll chip in $20 to save Net Neutrality.

The best part is, if we can scare Congress off these bills right now, this victory will stick. The longer the Internet flourishes under these rules, the harder they’ll be to undo. There *is* a light at the end of the tunnel.

Let’s get this done.

Thanks,

–Fight for the Future

P.S. A few people asked for more info about how we were going to use the money, so I wanted to give a bit more detail. It ends up being pretty simple. We need a campaigner who’s eating, sleeping and breathing net neutrality actions aimed at Congress, so that they’re constantly taking heat for this until they back off. Beyond that, we need to give that campaigner some design and developer time to support their best campaign ideas. Bringing together top notch activists with designers and developers in a space where everyone can work together to rain headaches down upon the corrupt– that’s what makes campaigns like battleforthenet.com possible. It’s how we win.

Our work isn't magic -- but we know it’s incredibly effective. We’re a small group of people with the right mix of talents who are waking up every morning with one mission, and one job: to protect the Internet’s power as a force for good in the world, to keep it from being turned against us.

Your donations are what let us do that. For us, the best donations are the ones that recur monthly because it’s support we can count on. Can you donate monthly?

Oh for sure, I’ll donate $20 each month to make sure we don’t lose net neutrality.

Thanks!

Sources:here and here

Demand that Congress observe Net Neutrality

From Demand Progress:

Breaking news: A bill to fast-track the repeal of the FCC's strong Net Neutrality rules was just introduced in Congress—and there might be enough votes to pass it.

The bill uses a special process that allows Congress to overturn a regulation with a simple majority vote, and a vote could come at any time.1

This is one of the biggest threats to net neutrality we've seen yet—but we're fighting back.

Last week, nearly 1,000 people joined in our Net Neutrality Day of Action, dropping by their local representatives' office to tell them to defend Net Neutrality. Will you chip in $5 to keep up the pressure?

Yes, I'll chip in $5 to defend Net Neutrality.

Since the FCC announced its strong new rules to protect Net Neutrality, we've seen a whole wave of attacks, including five—count 'em, FIVE—lawsuits to block the rules in court.

Now Congress is pulling out all the stops, and defending Net Neutrality is going to require the same kind of grassroots outcry it took to get the FCC to adopt it in the first place.

Without Net Neutrality, cable companies like Comcast will be able to charge big corporations extra fees for fast service and stick the rest of us in an Internet slow lane.

Will you chip in $5 to mobilize the grassroots support we need to stop this terrible bill in its tracks?

Yes, I'll chip in $5 to defend Net Neutrality.

Thanks.

--Demand Progress

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