Joining the union is a condition of employment like any other condition of employment, if that is what the employer and employees have agreed to in a contract.
And if that condition of employment was to join the Republican party, you'd have no problem with that, right?
You've already asked me, and I answered. But I think it's worth pointing that I would, in fact, have quite a problem with it. I wouldn't work for such a company, and would likely avoid doing business with them. But it doesn't violate anyone's rights for them to make such ridiculous demands, and it should not be illegal.
Again, I appreciate your consistency.
Truth be told, this topic was not an easy one for me to determine my position. On one hand, I think a private business should be free to hire whomever they like. I am against government meddling in business in general.
However, I do not think anyone, government or business, should be able to force an individual to do anything outside of that place of employment and I particularly stand against government (or business) telling individuals how to spend their money.
This may be akin to drug testing in the workplace. Here's an example: Let's say you operate a dangerous machine, like flying a plane. Your employer, I believe, absolutely has the right to make sure you're not under the influence when you fly that plane. However, I do NOT believe your employer has the right to know if you smoked a joint three weeks prior, during your personal time.
So, if an employer wants to force a worker to join a work place committee to tackle issues like worker safety, that's fine. It's reasonably part of the worker's job. However, if the employer forces the worker to pay to fund an outside organization, I think that's going too far, a violation of an individual's right to spend the fruits of their labor as they like.
It's a balance I think, but that's where I fall in my thinking...at least right now