Since yesterday’s post about the grim situation facing labor in California over the vote on Proposition 75–which would require public employee unions to notify their members about the use of dues for political efforts–I’ve gotten a couple of notes that say that there is a fair amount of mobilizing now underway. The L.A. County Fed has sounded the alarm–at least so it says here and I see AFL-CIO political director Karen Ackerman has made it a priority, making an appearance at this labor summit.

On the other hand, a long-time Los Angeles labor politico told me today that labor should have been mobilizing on this back in May and it may be too late now because many people in the public may have their views already set in stone.

As much as I’ve been a critic of labor’s political program, I think as long as unions are playing the game the way they are, this Proposition must be defeated. Get the word out.

UPDATE: The Los Angeles Times reports today (registration required) that unions have now raised $80 million to defeat Prop 75 and the other initiatives. Here’s an excerpt:

Unions Spending Lavishly
At $80 million and counting, the battle against Prop. 75 is on track to set a record.
By Dan Morain and Jordan Rau, Times Staff Writers

SACRAMENTO — Led by public employee unions, organized labor has raised more than $80 million in its effort to defeat the initiatives promoted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, campaign finance reports show.

With a month left before the Nov. 8 special election, unions, particularly those representing state and local civil servants, could shatter California spending records for ballot measure battles.

The tally changes daily as reports are filed. And the overall sums are difficult to track with precision, given the volume of donations and transfers among campaign accounts.

Schwarzenegger has raised $34 million to promote his initiatives this year, plus $2.1 million for his 2006 reelection effort. Separate campaigns for initiatives he is pushing have raised about $8 million more…”