Philadelphia, PA (August 22, 2013) – The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which helps victims of union coercion, just released a special legal notice geared to informing Philadelphia-area construction workers of their rights.

The Foundation issued the legal notice in the wake of extensive media reports of union violence and harassment perpetrated against Post Brothers Construction and other nonunion construction employers’ work sites in the Philadelphia area. The reports allege that Philadelphia Building Trades Union militants are at the heart of this despicable activity.

The Foundation encourages Philadelphia construction workers to learn about their rights from independent sources and posted the special legal notice for workers on its website at https://www.nrtw.org.

The Foundation notes that employees have the right under federal labor law, and local criminal and civil laws, to work in an environment free from union threats, violence, and coercion. And the Foundation is offering free legal aid to Philadelphia construction employees targeted by union violence and harassment.

«The National Right to Work Foundation stands ready to defend the rights of workers who want to work to support themselves and their families free from union thuggery and intimidation,» said Patrick Semmens, Vice President of the National Right to Work Foundation. «No worker should ever be forced to join or pay dues to an unwanted union just to get or keep a job.»

If you are a nonmember of the Machinists union (IAM) or the Transportation Communications union (TCU) paying dues or “agency fees” to keep your job, you are entitled to claim a permanent reduction in your IAM or TCU dues. For calendar year 2011, the IAM admits that 30.62% of International union dues, 14.67% of district lodge dues and 12.24% of local lodge dues are being spent on political, ideological and other non-representational activities for which no employee can be required to pay. For TCU, the figures call for a reduction in calendar year 2011 of 30.62% of International union dues and 11.22% of TCU fees.

According to the "Notice" published in the Fall 2010 issue of the "IAM Journal," you can claim this permanent reduction by sending a letter postmarked during the month of November, 2010, to:

Warren L. Mart, General Secretary Treasurer
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers
9000 Machinists Place
Upper Marlboro, MD. 20772-2687

Your letter can be short and simple, and needs only to state that you are a nonmember represented by the IAM or TCU, and that you object to paying for the unions’ political and other nonrepresentational activities. Include your name, home address, name of your employer, and the Local Lodge number of the union that represents your bargaining unit, if you know it.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In order for you to make this a permanent and continuing objection, your letter should include a line stating that "my objection is permanent and continuing in nature unless and until revoked by me." Under a recent NLRB decision in IAM and IAM Local Lodge 2777 (L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace), 355 NLRB No. 174 (2010), the IAM is required to accept and process permanent and continuing objections, but you must specify this or your objection will be cancelled after one year and you will have to renew it next November.

Further note: If you are now a member of the IAM or TCU, you need to resign your membership in order to claim this dues reduction, since these unions do not allow members to receive the dues reduction. Click here for additional information on resigning and objecting.

If you have any questions or comments or need help concerning these matters, you may contact us via e-mail at legal@nrtw.org, or by phone at 1-800-336-3600.