San Diego, Calif. (May 15, 2003) — With the help of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, an employee of Raytheon Technical Services Company filed charges against union officials for refusing to honor her resignation from the union, threatening her with internal union “disciplinary” charges, and illegally fining her $3,300.

The employee, Diana Huynh, filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the Electronic and Space Technicians (EST) Local 1553 and its affiliate, the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters (SWRCC). The NLRB is responsible for investigating the charges and will decide whether to prosecute the union for unfair labor practices.

“This is a clear case of union bosses trampling the rights of the workers they claim to represent,” said Stefan Gleason, Vice President of the National Right to Work Foundation.

The case began in August 2002, when Huynh notified EST and SWRCC union officials of her resignation from the union. EST Local 1553 officials claimed to accept her resignation, but nevertheless threatened to “discipline” Huynh. In an attempt to further harass Huynh, on April 28, union officials told her that as a penalty she was being fined $3,300 and her membership is “subject to suspension.”

Since Huynh is a non-member, it is illegal for EST and SWRCC union officials to impose a fine on her or threaten her with other disciplinary action. The actions of EST and SWRCC union officials violate the workers’ rights established by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Pattern Makers v. NLRB decision.

“Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident at this facility,” stated Gleason. “Union officials have been violating the rights of these workers for years.”

In September 2002, two other employees of Raytheon Technical Services, Michael Adams and Brent Bull, filed charges against EST and SWRCC officials for refusing to honor their resignations from the union, and for threatening them with internal union “disciplinary” charges. In response to these charges, filed with the help of National Right to Work Foundation attorneys, the NLRB issued a formal complaint against the unions, and set a trial date in that case for August 11, 2003.

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.