Wellington Industries Employee Files Federal Unfair Labor Practice Charges against UAW Local
Union officials illegally forced workers to become UAW members and pay full dues without informing them of their rights
Belleville, MI (May 6, 2011) – With free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation, a Wellington Industries employee has filed federal unfair labor practice charges against the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 174 and UAW Independent Local One unions for forcing her to pay full union dues and enrolling Wellington employees in the UAW without their consent.
Brenda Kowalski, a welder at the Wellington Belleville plant, and over 150 of her coworkers were threatened with termination by UAW officials if they refused to join the union, sign dues deduction authorization cards, and pay full union dues.
Because Michigan lacks a Right to Work law, employees can be forced to pay certain union dues as a condition of employment. However, no worker can be forced to join a union just to keep a job. The Foundation-won Supreme Court precedent Communication Workers v. Beck also holds that nonunion employees cannot be forced to pay for union activities unrelated to workplace bargaining, such as politics and political lobbying.
Despite these protections, UAW officials failed to notify workers at the Belleville plant of their rights to refrain from formal union membership and opt-out of full union dues. UAW officials also failed to provide Wellington employees with an audited breakdown of union expenditures, which is required by law to help nonunion workers determine what dues they must pay as a condition of employment.
Because no one at the Belleville facility was informed of their rights by UAW officials, Kowalski’s charges call for the immediate refund of all union dues collected for non-bargaining activities by Local 174 operatives. The charges will now be investigated by the National Labor Relations Board.
“This episode shows why Michigan so desperately needs a Right to Work law, which would make union membership and dues payment strictly voluntary,” said Patrick Semmens, Legal Information Director for the National Right to Work Foundation.
Comments
What a joke
The company is a complete joke. The contract is an even bigger one. The so-called union reps there are more worried about what they look like to management and would not fight for you if their own lives depended on it. The company interprets the contract any way they see fit that's going to advance them. If you ain't their family (son-in-law who is now the plant manager after a couple years) or don't have your lips on their a## then you ain't going far and when you ask the people why they don't want the UAW their answer is that they got everything they want. Well what about the newer people they don't get crap and what they did have was traded by the union reps for a nickel raise hope your living higher on that nickel you greedy basterds.
Employed in Alabama, enjoy
Employed in Alabama, enjoy your "Right to Work" for less and your Wellington handbook which is not a contract and is subject to change at any time. The company may do well there but YOU may not. Don't slip up or you will be in the unemployment line fast. This company loves to screw with people, thats why we formed a real Union. Oh by the way, how come Wellington closed up two Non-Union plants, Almont Michigan and Cook Georgia then purchased a building next door to our Union plant in Belleville and added more Union people and new equipment? Don't seem like we are going anywhere soon does it partner. Course then again sh** happens so you never know. And yes Alabama, you could be closed if it don't work out and Wellington will just move over to the next Right to Work for Less state. So from UAW Local 174 to Wellington Alabama, heres a big YEE HAW Ya'll!!
If you still be aware of
If you still be aware of maintaining your birkin bag, give you a good suggestion- go to the professional handbag
maintenance store. They will help you to take care of your Hermes. In case they break it, you can ask for compensation,
whatever.
Leather should give more attention. Normally, birkin bag only needs to be cleaned by the soft, damp and white
cloth. If there is pen scratch on the surface, you may directly wipe them off with an eraser. Once your Hermes leather
handbag is worn away for your careless, you have to ask natural leather oil cleaner for help. The leather like our skin, you
should moisturize and condition them in some time.
You people are idiots.
You people are idiots. Without the union, Wellington Industries wanted to cut our pay and take away benefits while opening new plants in other states and crying that they are broke. Brenda Kowalski was on the last bargaining committee and bargained away our pay and benefits. The UAW helped us get some of them back on this contract. I am glad we affiliated with them. Brenda Kowalski needs to retire which is what she will be doing soon anyway because she is of retirement age and is trying to sell out the people who have to still work there for her own personel gain. A true lowlife in her finest form. Let see you print this and show the other side of the coin.
UAW PROUD
Enjoy unemployment......
Hey "Bama", Your sarcasm
Hey "Bama",
Your sarcasm shows just how very little that you know about the company that you are currently employed with. The people at the Belleville facility are the workers that have helped Wellington Industries expand and be profitable enough to open your facility. If you could speak with the senior employees at this facility you just might not be so arrogant and cocky with your remarks. They have had to accept drastic pay and benefit cuts (you will see eventually) in order to stay working. At every corner they have had to fight tooth and nail to regain a small portion of the pay and benefits that were taken away. Nobody here in Michigan "enjoys" unemployment. We are the people that helped bring this nation to be as prosperous as it is. We work hard at our jobs, we expect that our employers do the right thing. Treat us fairly, be honest with us and bargain in good faith.