Here we go again.

Less than two years after California unions and human rights organizations had to knock on voters' doors to defeat a ballot initiative that would have taken unions out of politics, the state's right wing is pushing another anti-worker referendum.

In 1998, California arch-conservatives spent millions trying to gain voter support for a so-called "Paycheck Protection Act" (Proposition 226) that would ban unions from spending member dues on political education – even though big corporations were free to spend whatever they wanted.

In a victory that many say started the resurgence of the labor movement across the country, unions, churches and human rights groups across the state banded together to fight the unfair referendum and got out the vote and defeated the measure.

Opponents succeeded in explaining the real intent of the ballot initiative and overcame tens of millions of dollars of misleading advertising funded by big business. The unions and their allies reversed a 30 percent pre-election voter approval in the months before the election to a solid defeat on election day.

But, despite the expensive defeat in 1998, the well-funded right wing is poised for another try to muzzle unions and clear the field for their propaganda.

The new proposition 25, to be voted on March 7, would limit union political spending by treating all local unions as one organization and limiting their contribution. This means labor-friendly candidates would be allowed only one contribution from each union, rather than political support from different locals.

In contrast to the limitation on unions, the initiative would let corporate executives spend more, by increasing the individual contribution limit to $3,000.

Prop 25 is the brainstorm of right-wing millionaire Ronald Unz, who has said he would spend millions to support the measure.

California unionists now must renew efforts that defeated Prop 226 in 1998 and explain to the state's voters how the referendum would hurt their interests in electing state lawmakers.

They have mobilized phone banks, door-to-door house calls, and get-out-the-vote drives to inform working Californians of the dangers of the initiative. Unionists are working with churches, civil rights groups and the League of Women Voters to bring the truth to the public.