Should people be forced, against their will, to reach into their own pockets and give money to a cause with which they disagree? This is a question that thousands of union members in Ohio are confronted with every year. And their ability to make this decision is severely restricted.

That is why The Buckeye Institute is again partnering with the Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI) and more than 100 other groups in 42 states to raise awareness for National Employee Freedom Week, which runs August 14-20.

The goal of National Employee Freedom Week is to inform union members of their legal rights concerning membership as well as how their member funds are being used for purposes other than collective bargaining.

Of course, many union members are pleased with their representation, and that’s fine. However, there are also many who feel compelled to pay dues to an organization that spends their hard-earned dollars on issues with no connection to their union’s stated purpose of collectively bargaining on behalf of its members.

In Ohio, union members can block their money from being used for political activities by becoming what is referred to as an “agency fee payer.” This means that they are paying only for the direct representation offered by the union in collective bargaining. To learn more about this option, click here. One can also become a “religious or conscientious objector” where the dues are deducted but made payable to a charity.

Despite these options, there is only one way that current and prospective union members can assure themselves of complete employee freedom, and this is for Ohio to become a right-to-work state.

The Buckeye Institute has published numerous reports showcasing the economic benefits Ohio can reap from becoming a right-to-work state, including our 2012 report, Ohio Right-to-Work: How the Economic Freedom of Workers Enhances Prosperity.

However, this issue is about more than economics: No one should be forced to pay to join an association against their free will. This is the message of National Employee Freedom Week, and it is a message The Buckeye Institute has spoken in the past and will continue to give a voice to in the future.