The National Association of Evangelicals is in sympathy with the basic bargaining objectives of organized labor and defends the right of unions to negotiate for proper wages, hours and working conditions. The Association also champions liberty of conscience, which is set forth in the Holy Scriptures and recognized as an inalienable right both by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
While it is recognized that many individual workers are benefited by the efforts and achievements of labor unions, in no case should a worker be compelled to pay any part of dues to be used by the union for political or other activities not directly related to negotiations with management for wage rates or proper working conditions. Workers have a responsibility to share the costs of the services which benefit them.
No opposition should be raised against, and no penalties or disabilities applied to those who choose not to belong to labor unions for reasons of religious convictions. The U. S. Supreme Court has recently held in the Allen case and the Street case that dues could not be compulsorily collected from dissenting employees and used for political purposes.
In harmony with the conscientious convictions of those who do not want to join labor unions, it should be understood that the payment of a collective bargaining fee would not make the individual a member of the union, nor should he be required to take an oath, attend union meetings, or engage in any other activity in violation of his conscience. Provision should be made for those who have such convictions to be able to appeal to an agency of the United States government such as the Fair Employment Practices Commission.