AFSCME Union Bosses Hit With Federal Charges for Illegally Ordering Hospital Employee Fired
Union officials demand worker be fired for exercising Constitutionally-protected right to refrain from full-dues-paying union membership
Saint Paul, Minnesota (February 13, 2012) – A Regions Hospital switchboard operator filed a federal charge against a local union for threatening to fire her for exercising her right to refrain from full-dues-paying union membership.
With free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation, Rebecca Holt recently filed the charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 722 union bosses demanded Holt sign an "Authorization of Payroll Deduction" form authorizing union officials to deduct full union dues from her paycheck. Holt requested information about her rights, including her right to refrain from full-dues-paying union membership.
Because Minnesota does not have Right to Work protections for its workers, employees can be forced to pay a part of union dues as a condition of employment. However, union officials cannot demand formal union membership to keep a job. The Foundation-won Supreme Court precedent Communication Workers v. Beck also holds that workers who refrain from union membership cannot be forced to pay for union activities unrelated to workplace bargaining, such as politics and political lobbying.
Instead of informing Holt of her rights, union officials initiated disciplinary procedures with the hospital to have her terminated from her job. Additionally, one union official attempted to bully Holt to sign the dues deduction authorization while she was working at her desk, prompting her immediate coworkers to look into their rights to refrain from union membership.
"Rebecca Holt is taking a courageous stand against the union officials’ campaign of intimidation and thuggery," said Mark Mix, President of National Right to Work. "AFSCME union bosses are blatantly violating the law by attempting to have an employee fired for inquiring about her constitutional rights and for refusing to pay for the union's political agenda."
"Ultimately, Minnesota desperately needs a Right to Work law to protect workers from forced unionism abuses like this in the future," added Mix.
Comments
Fire?
When did the union have the power to fire someone? They represent the workers, they have no power to hire or fire. This is just another "bogus" claim, of course with thugs like Mixer it's to be expected.
Bogus Claim?
I submitted a letter to my union last week resigning from union memership. I am being forced to pay for a pension which I did not vote or will I benefit from. I do not work the suffienct hours to receive pension benefits. Our union contract indicated Non members shall be terminated from employment within 10 business days of becoming a non member. So, tell me who are the thugs. The union is stealing from me, I received a certified letter in the mail today. I am sure it is from the union telling me I will be terminated from employment if I become a non member. And you betcha, I am going to fight this with every penny I have.
You quit!
There is a contract that says your fired if you withdraw from the union. Again the union is not firing anyone, they are resigning their job because they disagree with the union. You quit, not fired. I'm sure there are other benefits that come with the job besides a pension. Probably why you still want the job, good pay and benefits you just don't like paying dues. Nothing is for free these days.
The employee is not trying
The employee is not trying to hold a union position as a non-union payer, simply requesting her rights not be violated in terms of membership (unlawfully being required to sign a Payroll Deduction form, having her Beck Rights violated and being thtreatend by union officials), as stated in the article. You're right, the union cannot fire her but they can request the employer to do so. Such a termination has not yet occured. If it did, it would violate more of the employee's rights.
Bogus claim, really?
Bogus claim, really? Where's your proof?