Anti-worker staff in the County Civic Center

Freedom Foundation staff members seen at Anaheim City Hall yesterday and today  in the Orange County Civic Center. The anti-worker organization aims to fool workers into giving up their rights.

Dear OCEA member,

Anti-worker staff spotted in the Orange County Civic Center
We have been alerted to the presence of anti-union staff from the “Freedom Foundation” at the Civic Center today, October 17. This anti-worker organization is passing out literature to public workers with deceptive information about their rights as union members. 

If you or your coworkers receive a Freedom Foundation mailer, phone call, or are confronted by one of their volunteers, we wanted to alert you to some facts about who they are and what they hope to accomplish.

They publicly oppose raises for public workers
The Freedom Foundation fights against fair pay for public employees. On their blog, one of their staff members Amber Gunn wrote, “It makes little sense to promote a pay raise for state employees who are satisfied enough with their job that 90 percent of them choose to remain employed by the state." 

They want to end public employee pensions
Also from the Freedom Foundation blog: “Everything should be on the table … states should consider replacing their defined benefit plans with defined contribution 401(k) plans.”

They want to increase your health care monthly premium rates
“It’s about time state worker health insurance premiums were on the table. The Evergreen Freedom Foundation has long recommended that public workers pay a bigger share …” Freedom Foundation official blog.

They are funded by wealthy special interests
They receive private funding by the wealthiest CEOs and billionaires looking to undermine the rights of workers by weakening unions so they can outsource your jobs and cut your pay and benefits. They do not disclose their donors; however, researchers have identified connections to some of the nation's largest front groups for the ultra-wealthy such as Charles and David Koch, the Devos Foundation, the State Policy Network, the Bradley Foundation, and the Walton Foundation (Walmart).

If you see a Freedom Foundation staff member at your work location, please notify your OCEA Steward or call OCEA at (714) 835-3355 immediately. If you would like more information about this group, visit ocea.org/facts. And please don’t hesitate to call your Steward or Labor Relations Representative should you have any questions.

In Solidarity, 

Charles Barfield
OCEA General Manager

Publication Date: October 17, 2019