The Texas Organizing Project Education Fund has begun fundraising efforts in post-Harvey affected Texas in a questionable way. Although some of the funds they raise will go to aiding those impacted by Hurricane Harvey, their donation page states that funds will also help the group organize workers, which is beyond standard humanitarian assistance and expectations for relief donations. The group is sponsored by a number of advocacy groups and unions, including Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Communication Workers of America, Faith in Texas, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Texas Housers, and the labor-affiliated Workers Defense Project. SEIU has been the group’s largest union sponsor to date.
“The fine print for this so-called ‘relief fund’ makes clear that it funds workplace organizing efforts, rather than direct aid for Harvey victims,” said Michael Saltsman, research director for the pro-free market Employment Policy Institute. “If Americans want to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, they should donate to an organization like the Red Cross—not Big Labor and its affiliates.”
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