National Right to Work Foundation assists Michigan State University employee after university union bosses illegally demanded forced union fees and ignored union resignation

East Lansing, Michigan (March 18, 2016) – With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, a Michigan State University employee has filed unfair labor practice charges with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) against the MSU Administrative Professional Association (APA) union and its state affiliate, the Michigan Education Association (MEA). The charges detail how union officials violated Michigan’s public sector Right to Work law by illegally demanding compulsory union fees.

Nichole Frattaroli works as an information technologist at Michigan State University. Frattaroli exercised her right to resign her APA union membership in September 2015 and revoked her dues-checkoff authorization form.

On September 30, 2015, the preexisting monopoly bargaining agreement between the APA and Michigan State expired, and Frattaroli became fully covered by Michigan’s public sector Right to Work law.

Despite her resignation, full union dues continued to be deducted from her October, November, and December paychecks. In late December, Frattaroli sent another letter to Michigan State and APA officials noting that they had violated the Right to Work law. APA officials ignored Frattraoli’s letter.

In mid-January, after sending a third letter, Frattaroli received an e-mail from APA officials stating that Frattaroli remained an APA member, and that she is required to pay nearly $600 in union dues. In response, Frattaroli requested that APA officials accept her September resignation and refund all of the illegally seized dues APA received from October through December. The union has not responded to Frattaroli’s request.

Michigan’s Right to Work law protects Frattaroli’s right to refrain from union membership, and prohibits union officials from charging workers union dues or fees as a condition of employment.

“This latest forced-dues foul is part of union bosses’ playbook of illegal blocks and screens designed to prevent workers from exercising the protections enshrined in Michigan’s popular new Right to Work laws,” said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Foundation.

“What we are seeing in Michigan is a widespread systematic attempt by union bosses to undermine Michigan’s Right to Work protections by repeatedly violating the law. Fortunately, the National Right to Work Foundation stands ready assist workers in enforcing their legal rights so these violations cannot continue with impunity.”

National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys are currently litigating more than 40 cases in Michigan for employees whose rights have been violated by Michigan union officials.

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.