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See the full story · 1 sourcesFIRST ON FOX: The Republican-led House Committee on Education and Workforce is demanding financial records from five of the nation's largest labor unions over allegations that union leaders used funds to support Democratic candidates and progressive causes while spending millions on lavish perks.
In letters obtained by Fox News Digital and sent Thursday, the lawmakers on the committee requested financial records dating back to January 2023 from the United Auto Workers (UAW), United Steelworkers (USW), SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD), Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED).
"Unions are supposed to be representing workers for their best interests on the job site, for their future goals that they have, and to work together in a commonality that speaks for, I think, in general, all of the workers combined and not just select portions of it," Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., who also serves as the chairman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, told Fox News Digital.
"When we see funds that have been used by multiple unions for highly political purposes, and you begin to see that the rank and file aren't following along with the same political funding purposes of union leadership, common sense says you ought to take a look at it."
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Multiple reports cited in the letters, including previous Fox News Digital reporting on BMWED's political spending , allege union leaders spent millions supporting Democratic candidates and progressive causes while also spending heavily on conferences, travel, entertainment and other expenses.
The UAW had the highest reported totals, with nearly $95 million in political spending and nearly $146 million spent on travel and entertainment.
The requests also seek records on lobbying , executive pay, travel, entertainment and conference expenses, along with member complaints, ethics and audit policies, transfers to larger labor organizations, and the use of union funds to cover expenses for spouses, family members, guests or political allies.
The lawmakers argue there is a growing disconnect between union leadership and members, saying many rank-and-file workers have "increasingly supported President Trump and other Republican candidates in recent election cycles."
"I think it comes down to the leader's own self-interest," Walberg said. "That could be political interest, or that could be self-aggrandizement, or in certain cases looks like for monetary purposes, for their own personal benefit."
In the letters, the lawmakers said that workers "deserve transparency regarding how their dues are spent, the extent to which union leadership consults members before endorsing candidates or engaging in political activities, and whether differing viewpoints within the union are being respected."
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Walberg said the committee is examining how some unions spend dues collected under "mandatory membership policies."
"We have responsibility in our committee for oversight on what goes on in the workplace, what goes in those that represent workers in the work place on both sides of the equation, whether it's the employer or the union," he said.
But Walberg said union leaders still face questions about serving workers' best interests.
"There have been union leaders who have gone to jail and certainly been prosecuted over misuse of funds," he said. "There seems to be indication that that still is going on in certain major unions."
Insisting "this is not to be a partisan political motivated effort," Walberg said the committee's role is oversight and that evidence uncovered during the investigation could still be referred to the Justice Department.
"We do not have prosecutorial powers," he said. "We can't put anybody in jail. We can call for information, and ultimately call for union leadership to come before our committee and answer questions."
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The unions were asked to respond by Aug. 17, with the UAW receiving a separate Aug. 18 deadline.
"The committee will continue examining whether current labor law adequately protects workers from political coercion and whether additional transparency requirements are warranted," according to the letters.
The letters added that the unions' responses will assist "in determining whether any legislative changes are warranted," arguing unions have a legal duty to fairly represent members and that workers "should not be compelled to subsidize political advocacy fundamentally at odds with their beliefs or interests."
Walberg said the investigation is "for a purpose," one he hopes will hold union leaders accountable.
"I hope that will be very apparent and transparent that we are concerned about the rank-and-file union member who in most cases had no choice about their contributions but should have a clear understanding and the ability to react to that understanding about how their funds are being used for political, cultural, you name it, purposes and have their union leadership brought to light," he said.
In response to Fox News Digital's request for comment, SMART-TD spokesperson Dan Banks said that regarding the union's finances, labor organizations already face "extensive federal reporting and disclosure requirements" and urged the committee to "focus its efforts on legislation that meaningfully improves the lives and working conditions of American workers."
Fox News Digital also reached out to the UAW, USW, BLET and BMWED for comment. BMWED declined to comment, while the other unions did not respond by publication.
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