Religious Freedoms

Right to Work Foundation Announces New Addition to Legal Team

Anthony Riedel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:39:30 -0500

Washington, DC (January 30, 2012) – The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation has hired Sarah Hartsfield of Austin, Texas, as an addition to its legal staff.

Hartsfield is a recently sworn in member of the Virginia State Bar and 2011 graduate of the Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

"Sarah brings to the Foundation a real commitment to defending and advancing individual liberty against the injustices of compulsory unionism," said Ray LaJeunesse, vice president and legal director of the National Right to Work Foundation.

"She will assist the Foundation's cutting-edge legal team in defending America's workers from Big Labor's growing influence in the public sector, enforcing individual employees' rights against compulsory unionism, and establishing new precedents to increase workplace freedom for America’s workers."

Tennessee Teacher Wins Settlement that Refunds Union Dues Used for Controversial Political Activities

Will Collins — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:28:12 -0400

Polk County, TN (October 3, 2011) – With free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation, a Tennessee public school teacher has won a full refund of union dues from the Polk County Education Association (PCEA), Tennessee Education Association (TEA), and National Education Association (NEA) unions. The settlement results from a 2003 complaint filed in state court by Dewey Esquinance, who wished to become a member of the PCEA to participate in negotiations over his wages and working conditions without supporting the union’s political activities.

After a Polk County Circuit Court dismissed the case in 2004, the Tennessee Court of Appeals reversed that ruling and remanded the case back to the circuit court for further deliberations. Rather than go to trial, union lawyers later offered Esquinance a full dues refund, plus interest.

Michigan Worker Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Halt UAW Policy of Religious Discrimination

Anthony Riedel — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:25:20 -0500

Washington, DC (December 15, 2009) – With free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation, a western Michigan auto worker is asking the U.S. Supreme Court today to review a United Auto Workers (UAW) union policy intended to stymie workers’ religious objections to the union bosses’ agenda.

Jeffrey Reed, a resident of Bridgman, Michigan, assembles vehicles for AM General. Because his workplace is unionized, he works under a monopoly bargaining agreement which forces him either to join the UAW or pay compulsory union fees to it in order to keep his job. However, Reed, a devout Catholic, believes financially supporting the UAW union violates his sincerely-held religious beliefs due to the union hierarchy’s support for special rights for homosexuals and abortion-on-demand.

Coldwater Teacher Files Federal Suit Against Ohio Teacher Union Notorious for Religious Discrimination

Anthony Riedel — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:45:59 -0500

Columbus, OH (December 4, 2008) - A fourth grade teacher from the Coldwater Exempted Village School District has filed a federal suit against the state’s largest teacher union for forcing her to pay compulsory union fees to fund the union whose activities violate her religious faith.

National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation attorneys, providing the teacher with free legal aid, filed the suit this week in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division.

Two Ohio Teachers of Faith Win Right to Refrain From Supporting Objectionable Union

Will Collins — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:35:27 -0400

Cincinnati, Ohio (September 24, 2008) – National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys recently obtained settlements with the National Education Association (NEA) union for two teachers whose consciences would not allow them to pay mandatory dues to support a union involved in activities they consider immoral. Geralyn Buening and Tessy Huwer, both practicing Catholics, objected to the NEA’s positions on abortion and special rights for homosexuals.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act forbids discrimination against religious employees and requires companies and unions to attempt to reasonably accommodate employees’ sincerely-held religious beliefs. The obligation to accommodate includes the payment of compulsory union fees, as no employee should be forced to fund a union that engages in activities that offend their religious convictions.

Court Strikes Down Ohio Law Forcing Public Employees to Pay Union Dues Unless They Join Certain Religions

Webmaster — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Western Michigan Auto Worker Hits UAW Union with Federal Religious Discrimination Lawsuit

Webmaster — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Federal Court Decree Forces Union and State of Ohio to End Statewide Religious Discrimination

Webmaster — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Safeway Employee’s Suit Forces Union Officials to End Religious Discrimination

Webmaster — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400

EEOC Cites Government Employee Union for Illegal Retaliation Against Worker Exercising Religious Freedom

Webmaster — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400