Labor Unions & Planned Parenthood: A Leftist Love Affair

As Americans become increasingly horrified by the revelation of Planned Parenthood’s barbaric harvesting of baby body parts – including, reportedly, from those born alive in their clinics, they are also haunted by the fact that nearly 40% of its budget comes from their tax dollars. Through this funding all Americans are pulled, even as unwilling participants, into the slaughter of 57 million (and counting) babies. That is 18% of the population of the United States. Surely their witness should be added to that of 45% of Americans who believe that abortion is always morally wrong. Unfortunately, federal and state governments are not the only organizations who conscript money for Planned Parenthood from those who view it with nothing but horror. Many prominent labor unions – to which many workers must belong – use union dues to support Planned Parenthood’s murderous activities.

As Kate Scanlon reported in the Daily Signal, “the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Service Employees International Union and United Food and Commercial Workers gave a combined $435,000 to Planned Parenthood last year” alone. According to Life News, “the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees contributed $400,000 of the $600,000 in total donations that Planned Parenthood’s political operations have received since 2011.” Only twenty-five states have laws protecting workers from being forced into a labor union (if one exists for their industry). In other states, workers are forced to pay union dues which are often used for political activities which their members may not support.

Linda Misja, a Pennsylvania high school teacher, was able to opt-out of union membership by filing for a religious exemption. The union, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, uses union dues to support Planned Parenthood. Though she is not forced to be a member of the union, Linda must still contribute the equivalent of its dues through the union to a charity. She chose her local chapter of People Concerned for the Unborn Child, and her choice was rejected by the union. She is suing the union.

Unsurprisingly, the money flows both ways. Life News reports that, in addition to the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association and the unions listed above, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, and the United Autoworkers Union are also Planned Parenthood donors. Planned Parenthood also made large donations back to several of the unions, some of which are large Democrat donors. As Life News noted, Planned Parenthood donated $285,000 to the Service Employees International Union, $17,000 to the National Education Association, and $50,000 to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. Coincidentally Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, is married to the International Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union, Kirk Adams. Several union presidents defended – even praised – Planned Parenthood after the release  of the videos documenting its traffic in baby body parts.

In addition to strong support for abortion, labor unions have also worked to dismantle natural marriage and expand gay rights. As the Advocate reports, “Woven throughout the history of the LGBT civil rights movement, the support of organized labor has been the thread that ties it all together.” According to the Human Rights Campaign, “Many labor unions have been and remain key players in fighting off anti-LGBT ballot initiatives, committing hundreds of thousands of dollars and key staff to campaigns for marriage equality and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and fighting through contract negotiations and the political arena for transgender inclusive healthcare.” The AFL-CIO union celebrates its and other major unions’ backing of “Obama’s support for marriage equality.”

As millions of babies are being slaughtered, many of them having their organs harvested, and as small business owners get forced out of business for their religious beliefs about marriage, we must continue to fight the coercive policies of leftist politicians and their political supporters like Planned Parenthood and many labor unions. It is horrible enough that these things are forced upon our nation; it is unbelievable that we are to be coerced into financially supporting this wickedness. Americans who love life, truth, and freedom should demand that their politicians end these coerced subsidies of evil. Enough is enough.