Teachers again are in the crosshairs of Kansas legislators. Poor educators; they must feel they are walking targets these days.
This time the aim is to prevent teachers and other state employees from having union dues automatically deducted from their paychecks.
The Kansas Chamber of Commerce, naturally, is the instigator of the legislation, claiming the automatic deductions are an undue burden to the state’s payroll departments.
Lumped in with union dues would be any other automatic deductions such as contributions to foundations or charitable organizations and mortgage or car payments.
The only automatic deductions to remain would be for health, insurance and pension plans or those legally arranged such as child support and wage garnishments.
The goal to punish labor unions pales to the damage that would occur to other entities from such legislation.
Such a move would significantly affect organizations such as the United Way, which helps fund a broad array of services including senior centers, homeless shelters and daycare for the handicapped.
The state’s 30 chapters typically collect $1.5 million in contributions by payroll deductions from state employees.
Besides charitable organizations, it would seem loan institutions would be upset knowing that a source of guaranteed payment is no longer so stable.
Automatic payments are a boon to both consumers and businesses. Anytime you can make a payment, a gift, or a pledge, relatively painless, it’s going to happen with a lot more frequency.
Senators should defeat SB 212.
In trying to take down unions, other valuable services will be hurt as well.
— Susan Lynn
In targeting unions, lots of other valuable services hurt as well
