CVS Worker Files Federal Lawsuit Against Local Union

Union bosses spend nonmembers’ forced dues on union organizing activities

Columbus, OH (November 29, 2012) – A Westerville CVS employee has filed a federal lawsuit against a local union for using his forced union dues for illegal expenditures.

Randall Thompson filed the lawsuit Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio with free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.

United Food and Commercial Worker Local 1059 union officials enjoy monopoly bargaining privileges over Thompson’s workplace. And because Ohio does not have a Right to Work law making union affiliation and dues payments completely voluntary, Thompson is forced to pay a portion of union dues or fees as a condition of employment.

Click here to read the full release.

Columbus, OH (November 29, 2012) – A Westerville CVS employee has filed a federal lawsuit against a local union for using his forced union dues for illegal expenditures.

Randall Thompson filed the lawsuit Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio with free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.

United Food and Commercial Worker Local 1059 union officials enjoy monopoly bargaining privileges over Thompson’s workplace. And because Ohio does not have a Right to Work law making union affiliation and dues payments completely voluntary, Thompson is forced to pay a portion of union dues or fees as a condition of employment.

However, Thompson has exercised his right, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Foundation-won Communications Workers v. Beck case, to refrain from full dues-paying union membership. Under Beck, workers have the right to opt out of paying for union activities unrelated to workplace bargaining, such as union boss politicking, members-only events, political lobbying, and organizing.

Under federal labor and case law, union officials must also provide workers with an independently-audited financial breakdown of all forced-dues union expenditures. This procedural safeguard helps inform workers of how their forced union dues are being spent and makes it less difficult for workers to hold union officials accountable.

Earlier this year, Thompson received a financial breakdown from the UFCW union hierarchy. The letter stated that Thompson and other nonmember workers were being forced to subsidize the Local union hierarchy and its International affiliate’s expenses for unionizing workers. Thompson’s lawsuit challenges the union officials’ expenditures for union organizing, which the U.S. Supreme Court has held has only an “attenuated connection with collective bargaining.”

Thompson seeks a refund with interest of all illegally-confiscated dues taken from his paycheck.

“UFCW Local 1059 union officials are illegally spending workers’ hard-earned money to try to force more workers into union ranks,” said Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation. “In order to avoid forced unionism abuses like this in the future, Ohio needs a Right to Work law making union affiliation and dues payments completely voluntary.”

Twenty-three states have Right to Work protections for their workers. Recent public polling shows that 80 percent of Americans and union members support the Right to Work principle of voluntary unionism.

Ford Repairman’s Charge Spurs Federal Prosecution of Local Teamsters Union

Board’s lenient treatment of union officials’ conduct shows need for state Right to Work law

Minneapolis, MN (November 28, 2012) – Teamsters Local 974 union officials are facing federal prosecution for violating the rights of a former New Brighton Ford journeyman technician.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional office in Minneapolis issued a formal complaint against the union after Dylan McHenry of Hammond, Wisconsin filed federal charges against the union with free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.

Because Minnesota does not have Right to Work protections making union affiliation completely voluntary, McHenry was still forced to pay fees to the union to keep his job. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Foundation’s Communication Workers of America v. Beck case that workers are not required to pay union dues or fees for union boss political activities, lobbying, and member-only events.

Click here to read the full release.

Minneapolis, MN (November 28, 2012) – Teamsters Local 974 union officials are facing federal prosecution for violating the rights of a former New Brighton Ford journeyman technician.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional office in Minneapolis issued a formal complaint against the union after Dylan McHenry of Hammond, Wisconsin filed federal charges against the union with free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.

Because Minnesota does not have Right to Work protections making union affiliation completely voluntary, McHenry was still forced to pay fees to the union to keep his job. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Foundation’s Communication Workers of America v. Beck case that workers are not required to pay union dues or fees for union boss political activities, lobbying, and member-only events.

Under federal labor and case law, union officials must also provide workers with an independently-audited financial breakdown of all forced-dues union expenditures. This procedural safeguard helps inform workers of how their forced union dues are being spent and makes it less difficult for workers to hold union officials accountable. After McHenry resigned from formal union membership, Teamster union officials provided him with an incomplete breakdown of union expenditures.

McHenry initially filed the federal charge after the union hierarchy both refused to follow federal disclosure requirements and took money from his paychecks for its political action committee (PAC) – a clear violation of federal law.

“Amazingly, the NLRB Regional Director dismissed the allegations about the PAC contribution after Local 974 union officials claimed the illegal PAC payments were a ‘mistake,'” said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Foundation. “The regional office refused to direct the union to refund the illegally-seized union dues or impose any other punishment against the union, even though the illegal extractions continue.”

“However, the Region will prosecute the union hierarchy for not properly following federal disclosure requirements,” added Mix. “To prevent these types of forced unionism abuses in the future, Minnesota needs to pass a Right to Work law making union affiliation and dues payments completely voluntary.”

Twenty-three states have Right to Work protections for their workers. Recent public polling shows that 80 percent of Americans and union members support the Right to Work principle of voluntary unionism.

Caterpillar Workers File Federal Charges Against Machinist Union in Wake of Summer Strike

Union officials attempt to retaliate against nonmember workers

Chicago, IL (November 6, 2012) – In the wake of last summer’s Machinist union boss-instigated strike against Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), two Caterpillar workers have filed a federal charge against the Machinist union and its local affiliate for violating their rights.

With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Daniel Eggleston and Steven Olson filed their charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional office in Chicago. Foundation attorneys anticipate more charges will be filed for other Caterpillar workers at the facility.

Eggleston and Olson have refrained from union membership in the International Association of Machinist (IAM) union and its local District Lodge 851 affiliate for years and are thus exempt from the union hierarchy’s constitution and bylaws. However, because Illinois does not have Right to Work protections making union affiliation completely voluntary, they are still forced to pay part of union dues to keep their jobs.

Under federal law, workers who refrain from union membership cannot be disciplined for continuing to work during a union boss-ordered strike.

Click here to read the full release.

Chicago, IL (November 6, 2012) – In the wake of last summer’s Machinist union boss-instigated strike against Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), two Caterpillar workers have filed a federal charge against the Machinist union and its local affiliate for violating their rights.

With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Daniel Eggleston and Steven Olson filed their charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional office in Chicago. Foundation attorneys anticipate more charges will be filed for other Caterpillar workers at the facility.

Eggleston and Olson have refrained from union membership in the International Association of Machinist (IAM) union and its local District Lodge 851 affiliate for years and are thus exempt from the union hierarchy’s constitution and bylaws. However, because Illinois does not have Right to Work protections making union affiliation completely voluntary, they are still forced to pay part of union dues to keep their jobs.

Under federal law, workers who refrain from union membership cannot be disciplined for continuing to work during a union boss-ordered strike.

On May 1, Machinist Local 851 union bosses ordered all of the over 800 Rockdale Caterpillar workers on strike. Eggleston and Olson, along with over a hundred other workers, continued to work despite IAM union boss demands.

IAM Local 851 union bosses recently informed Eggleston and Olson, and other workers, that the union hierarchy intends to discipline them for refusing to leave their jobs during the strike.

Moreover, although Eggleston and Olson exercised their right under Foundation-won U.S. Supreme Court precedent upheld in Communication Workers v. Beck to refrain from full-dues-paying union membership, Local 851 union officials have continued to extract full union dues from their paychecks. In Beck, the Court held 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.

Eggleston and Olson’s charge challenges the union hierarchy’s assertion that it can punish them for continuing to work during the strike. The charge also challenges the amount of forced dues taken from the workers’ paychecks and the cumbersome process workers must take to refrain from full-dues-paying union membership in the IAM union.

“IAM union bosses are trying to punish workers who had the temerity not to toe the union boss line,” said Mark Mix, President of National Right to Work. “No workers should be forced to abandon their jobs and be denied their right to provide for themselves and their families at the whim of militant union bosses.”

School Bus Drivers Slam the Brakes on Teamster Union Rights Violations

Union officials charge nonmember workers more than full dues to keep their jobs

Spring Grove, PA (October 25, 2012) – A local Teamster union is facing federal prosecution after violating the rights of two local school bus drivers.

The case stems from federal charges filed by two school bus drivers, LeeAnn Schorner and Brenda Wiseman, with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) with free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.

Schorner and Wiseman refrain from formal union membership in the Teamsters Local Union 776 and object to paying full union dues. Because Pennsylvania lacks a Right to Work law, workers can be compelled to pay union fees as a condition of employment.

Click here to read the full release.

Spring Grove, PA (October 25, 2012) – A local Teamster union is facing federal prosecution after violating the rights of two local school bus drivers.

The case stems from federal charges filed by two school bus drivers, LeeAnn Schorner and Brenda Wiseman, with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) with free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.

Schorner and Wiseman refrain from formal union membership in the Teamsters Local Union 776 and object to paying full union dues. Because Pennsylvania lacks a Right to Work law, workers can be compelled to pay union fees as a condition of employment.

However, U.S. Supreme Court precedent guarantees that employees have the right to refrain from union membership and the right to opt out of paying for union activities unrelated to workplace bargaining, such as members-only events and political lobbying. Teamster union bosses are further required to provide an independently-audited breakdown of all forced-dues union expenditures.

In June, the bus drivers received a letter from Teamster union officials stating that the union hierarchy was requiring them to continue paying the full amount of union dues, even for months in which school is not in session. Meanwhile, union members pay a lower rate of union dues when school is not in session.

Moreover, Teamster union officials refuse to provide a federally-required breakdown of union expenditures. This procedural safeguard helps inform workers of where their forced union dues and fees are being spent and makes it a little less difficult for workers to hold union officials accountable.

The bus drivers filed their federal charges with the NLRB regional office in Philadelphia, which found merit to their charges. A hearing is scheduled for January 16.

“Teamster Local 776 union bosses are illegally targeting school bus drivers who want nothing to do with the union,” said Patrick Semmens, vice president for public information at the National Right to Work Foundation. “While a federal prosecution is a good first step, ultimately the best way to protect the rights of workers in the Keystone State is for Pennsylvania to pass a Right to Work law making union membership and dues payments strictly voluntary.”

Twenty-three states have Right to Work protections for workers. Recent public polling shows that nearly 80 percent of Americans and union members support the Right to Work principle of voluntary unionism.

Worker Forces Elevator Union Bosses to Settle Federal Charge and Drop Retaliatory $20,000 Fine

Union officials demanded full-dues-payment and union membership in violation of Supreme Court precedents

Chicago, IL (October 24, 2012) – A former Barnard/Imperial Elevator employee has won a settlement from a local union after union officials demanded he pay about $20,000 for working at a non-union workplace.

With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Robert Fierke filed a federal charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional office in Chicago after union officials levied approximately $20,000 of fines against him.

Fierke worked for Barnard/Imperial Elevator before the company went bankrupt. International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 2 union bosses enjoyed monopoly bargaining privileges over the workplace. IUEC union officials never informed workers, including Fierke, of their right to refrain from full-dues-paying union membership as upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Foundation-won Communications Workers v. Beck case.

Click here to read the full release.

Chicago, IL (October 24, 2012) – A former Barnard/Imperial Elevator employee has won a settlement from a local union after union officials demanded he pay about $20,000 for working at a non-union workplace.

With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Robert Fierke filed a federal charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional office in Chicago after union officials levied approximately $20,000 of fines against him.

Fierke worked for Barnard/Imperial Elevator before the company went bankrupt. International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 2 union bosses enjoyed monopoly bargaining privileges over the workplace. IUEC union officials never informed workers, including Fierke, of their right to refrain from full-dues-paying union membership as upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Foundation-won Communications Workers v. Beck case.

Instead, union officials demanded that Fierke join the union and pay full union dues as a condition of employment.

After Barnard went bankrupt, Fierke worked for a non-union employer for about a month. IUEC union officials demanded he pay the retaliatory fine even though he was never a voluntary member.

The settlement requires union officials to rescind the fine imposed on Fierke.

“Cynical elevator union bosses retaliated against a worker for exercising his rights to continue providing for himself and his family,” said Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation. “Illinois desperately needs a Right to Work law making union membership and dues-payment completely voluntary to prevent this type of union boss abuse in the future.”

Twenty-three states have Right to Work protections for employees. Public polling shows that nearly 80 percent of Americans and union members support the Right to Work principle of voluntary unionism.