Evansville, IN (June 5, 2014) – An Industrial Contractors Skanska construction worker has filed federal charges against a local union and his employer for discriminating against him based on his lack of union membership.

With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Michael Feist, a 15-year construction worker, filed the federal charges late last week with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

In early April 2014, Feist was expelled from the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 561 after Feist challenged the amount of dues going toward a union fund. Since then, LIUNA Local 561 union officials have refused Feist’s attempts to remain current on his union dues payments.

LIUNA Local 561 union bosses instructed Skanska in April to exclude him from further work opportunities. Skanska management has complied with the union’s illegal request and Fiest has been denied work since. Under federal law, workers cannot be discriminated against based on their lack of union membership.

“It is unconscionable that LIUNA bosses are actively obstructing a worker from obtaining work and providing for his family,” stated Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation. “If LIUNA bosses have a problem with treating workers fairly, then they should not claim exclusive representation over those workers.”

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.