Abstract
Labor unions are widely regarded as private organizations which finance their activities exclusively through revenues collected from members and others who are covered by collective bargaining agreements. In reality, however, U.S. unions receive millions of dollars each year through grants and contracts from federal, state, and local governments for a variety of purposes, including aid to the unemployed; these funds are used (sometimes illegally) to finance union operations, including political activities. This article briefly explores the phenomenon of tax-funded unionism.
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The authors gratefully acknowledge research support provided by the John M. Olin Foundation, the J.M. Foundation, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, and the Earhart Foundation.
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Bennett, J.T., DiLorenzo, T.J. Tax-funded unionism: The unemployment connection. J Labor Res 7, 363–385 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179666
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179666