Opinion ID: 1202753
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Point 2. Was A Group Formed Between the Employer and Participating Employees?

Text: Alaska Statute 15.13.130(4) [9] provides that a group is any combination of two or more persons ... acting jointly who take action the major purpose of which is to influence the outcome of an election... . The Commission held that each of the three VECO employer corporations constituted a separate group with their respective contributing employees. Under the Act, a corporation is a person. AS 15.13.130(7), AS 01.10.060(8). The Commission noted that two or more persons or individuals were involved in each plan and that the major purpose of each payroll deduction plan was to influence the outcome of an election. The combination and purpose requirements of the statutory definition having been satisfied, the issue that remained was whether joint action existed. The Commission found joint action because the employers actively participated in determining which candidates would receive the pool of funds from their employees. Absent the employers' role in recipient selection, the Commission indicated that the joint action requirement would not be fulfilled: The Alaska Public Offices Commission staff has taken the position that a withholding plan does not constitute joint action when the employee names a specific candidate, or candidates, to receive the withheld money. With this position, the Commission agrees. Under such circumstances, the employer is a mere conduit and has played no active part in the plan other than to mechanically obey the directions of its employees. VECO argues that a proper interpretation of joint action would require an employer to decide which candidates received employee contributions and to force recalcitrant employees to contribute. There was no evidence that VECO took such joint action. We agree with the Commission's position. Joint action in a payroll withholding contribution plan does not require mandatory participation by all employees, nor an absolute right of selection on the part of the employer. When two people or entities act jointly, they cooperate or collaborate. One need not control the other. In this context, joint action exists if the employer has a significant role in candidate selection. It is clear VECO had such a role. VECO distributed authorization forms which ensured, as a practical matter, that the great bulk of the contributions would go to candidates selected by the Alaska Political Action Committee. In itself that would be sufficient employer involvement for joint action. There was, however, more, as each of the corporations was a member of the Committee, and the Committee was cofounded and controlled by Bill Allen, VECO's chairman.