Professor: Union dues wrongly used for politics

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A college professor is challenging the use of her union dues to promote the gubernatorial campaign of Democratic Gov.-elect Tom Wolf.

Mary Trometter, an assistant professor at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, filed a complaint today with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. It alleges that the Pennsylvania State Education Association violated a law that says union funds cannot be used to promote political candidates.

Trometter objected to a personalized letter sent to her husband by the PSEA and its national affiliate, the National Education Association, urging him to join her in supporting Wolf. She says she didn’t support Wolf.

A spokesman for the PSEA, the state’s largest teacher union, says Pennsylvania’s campaign finance laws allow unions to privately communicate with members and their families on any subject.