[Breitbart Texas] A bill filed by Texas State Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston) could prove to be the financial death penalty for many public-sector labor unions across the state. The bill, SB 1968, was filed at the very end of the bill filing period for this Legislative Session last Friday, and would end the practice of automatic payroll deductions for labor union dues for the majority of public-sector unions.SB 1968 amends Chapter 617, Texas Government Code, to add a new Section 617.006, titled "Prohibition on Collection of Labor Organization Dues," as follows:
Except as provided by Sections 141.008 and 155.001, Local Government Code, and Sections 403.0165 and 659.1031, Government Code, the state or a political subdivision of the state may not deduct or withhold, or contract to deduct or withhold, from an employee's salary or wages payment of dues or membership fees to a labor organization or other similar entity, including a trade union, labor union, employees' association, or professional organization.
Among the exceptions included in this bill are labor unions representing those who are "employed by a state agency in a professional law enforcement or firefighting capacity, or an individual employed by a state agency in a capacity that meets the definition of 'emergency medical services personnel' as that term is defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code."
In essence, what SB 1968 would do is prohibit labor union dues from being automatically withheld from the paychecks of government employees, except for police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel. This would apply to state, county, and municipal employees, including employees of community colleges, universities, and school districts.
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