TBNS: What Your Union DOESN'T Tell You (Until You Try To Leave!)
Jul 27, 2026 · 31m
Summary
This episode revisits a 2021 interview with David Osborne, founder of Americans for Fair Treatment, who exposed how public sector unions coerce employees into paying dues even after resignation. Osborne argues that unions prioritize political power over member representation, forcing workers to fund causes they oppose. The host evaluates Osborne’s predictions, noting that while union spending and membership declines matched his forecasts, the Supreme Court upheld exclusive representation. Consequently, Osborne shifted from individual lawsuits to state-level policy reform at the Commonwealth…
Topics discussed
Intro, sponsor read, and union dues analogy
Throwback context: David Osborne and Americans for Fair Treatment
David Osborne's background and union misrepresentation
Case study: Jane Ladley and religious objection to union fees
Legal barriers and the cost of fighting union coercion
The gym membership analogy for resigning from unions
Unions' political spending and the cycle of big government
Union influence on Democrats and member disillusionment
Americans for Fair Treatment's mission and resources
Practical tools: Resignation letters and labor board forms
Vision for union independence and exclusive representation
Scorecard: What David Osborne got right in 2021
Scorecard: Supreme Court denial and executive orders
David's current role and show outro
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