Identity Theft

Case Update: Court Dismisses Frivolous Union Counter-Suit in Foundation Identity Theft Case

Will Collins — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:14:24 -0400

Regular Freedom@Work readers may remember the Foundation's recent identity theft case in North Carolina, where Communication Workers of America union bosses posted nonunion AT&T employees' social security numbers on a public bulletin board. Not only was this an open invitation to fraud and identity theft, it also violated North Carolina's newly-enacted Identity Theft Protection Act. Foundation attorneys have slammed CWA bosses in state court, seeking damages for affected AT&T employees.

NC Identity Theft Update - Judge Smacks Down Union Motion to Dismiss

Will Collins — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:04:40 -0400

In June, Foundation staff attorneys filed suit against Communications Workers of America (CWA) union officials on behalf of several North Carolina citizens. 16 current and former AT&T employees from Burlington, NC alleged that union operatives intentionally displayed their confidential information - including social security numbers - in a public forum, leaving them vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.

Union lawyers responded by filing a motion for dismissal, but the judge wasn't buying it. Although Judge Albert Diaz dismissed the invasion of privacy complaint filed against the union, he did not dismiss the Foundation's main charges under the North Carolina Identity Theft Protection Act and the the Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Foundation Action: Foundation Defends Against Union Identity Theft, Conspiracy

Anthony Riedel — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:34:57 -0400

This story from the September/October issue of Foundation Action shares the story of Patricia Pelletier, a Connecticut worker who successfully initiated a decertification election to eject an unwanted union from her workplace. In response, union officials started a campaign of intimidation and harassment against Pelletier. You can hear Patricia talk about her case in this video.

Read the whole story here (pdf) and sign up today for a free print subscription.

To receive the entire issue via email, just type your email address into the box in the top right corner of this page.

Third Circuit Rejects Union Lawyers' Attempt to Circumvent Privacy Law

Nick Cote — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:41:10 -0400

Last week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected the appeal filed by union lawyers in Pichler v. UNITE (read the opinion here), which should result in union liability to pay a multi-million dollar damage award to employees.

The facts of the case are simple: UNITE operatives launched an organizing campaign against the Cintas Corporation, among others. As part of the campaign, UNITE operatives surveiled employee parking lots and recorded license plate numbers of parked cars (as well as cars entering and leaving). "Information brokers" then searched Department of Motor Vehicle records to obtain names and addresses corresponding to the cars.

New Right to Work Video Report: Union Militants Display Nonmembers' Social Security Numbers

Nick Cote — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:02:28 -0400

Foundation attorneys have filed an unprecedented lawsuit in North Carolina state court on behalf of 16 AT&T employees against local union bosses who illegally released their confidential personal information (including their social security numbers) as retaliation for exercising their right to refrain from union membership. Two of the workers explain their battle in the latest Right to Work video report...

New Right to Work Video Report: Union Intimidation Meets Identity Theft

Will Collins — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:31:42 -0400

We've just released a mini video segment on the Foundation's ongoing efforts to hold union officials liable for a campaign of intimidation and harassment against Patricia Pelletier, a Connecticut worker who successfully initiated a decertification election to eject an unwanted union from her workplace. Union hotheads even planted crack cocaine in her work area to try to get her fired. Check it out: