The U.S. Department of Labor, despite recent leadership turmoil, has quietly rolled out a new tool that shines a light on how labor unions spend roughly $11 billion in member dues each year—including on political activities. The move comes at a time when public confidence in major institutions is eroding, and transparency advocates argue unions should be held to the same disclosure standards as corporations and nonprofits.
What the Dashboard Reveals
In February, the department launched an interactive data visualization tool that simplifies the notoriously complex LM-2 forms unions are already required to file with the Office of Labor-Management Standards. Those forms, which detail spending, assets, and major receipts, can run hundreds of pages and are often impenetrable for the average union member. The new dashboard makes the information searchable and accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
According to the most recent data, unions reported spending $791 million on politics and lobbying in 2020 alone. Many workers, however, assume their dues primarily fund core representation services like contract negotiations and grievance handling. The LM-2 forms also disclose relationships with political action committees and advocacy groups, underscoring the extent of union involvement in electoral and issue-based campaigns.
Political Spending Under Scrutiny
For example, in 2023, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) allocated 17% of its budget to political activities and lobbying—nearly as much as the 16% it spent on benefits and administration. That means a union representing over 2 million members spent roughly the same amount on partisan politics as on direct worker protections. Critics note that such spending may not reflect the views of all members; surveys show 28% of union members identify as centrist, suggesting a significant minority may not align with their leadership's political priorities.
None of this is inherently improper—unions, like many organizations, pursue goals through political advocacy. But transparency is critical, and both union members and the voting public have a right to know which organizations influence election outcomes. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce study found that 85% of Americans support requiring unions to provide clearer financial disclosures on how dues are spent.
The new Labor Department dashboard directly addresses that demand. While the LM-2 form has long required disclosure of union financial activity, including political spending, accessing and interpreting those filings was impractical for most workers. The forms are lengthy, filled with line items that require expertise to parse. The dashboard changes that, making the data usable for ordinary Americans, not just regulators or specialists.
Union members should take advantage of this tool. Greater visibility into how their $11 billion in annual dues are spent empowers workers and can help rebuild trust in powerful institutions like labor unions. As recent reporting shows, union political spending is massive and often flows to Democratic causes. For members who may not share those political leanings, the dashboard offers a way to see where their money is going.
The department's initiative is a commonsense step toward accountability. In an era when trust in institutions is fragile, transparency measures like this one are essential. The public and union members alike deserve clear information about organizations that play a major role in American politics and policy.
