Minnesota Childcare Providers Appeal Federal Lawsuit Challenging Forced Unionization Scheme

Childcare providers fight dictate to push them into forced union dues ranks

Minneapolis, MN (August 7, 2013) – With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, a group of Minnesota home-based childcare providers have appealed their federal challenge to a new law that seeks to forcibly unionize the state’s home-based childcare providers.

Jennifer Parrish from Rochester and 11 other providers from around the state filed the appeal yesterday after a U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota judge dismissed their lawsuit last month on the grounds that it was filed too soon. Foundation staff attorneys counter that childcare providers shouldn’t have to wait until their rights are violated to challenge the scheme, and that the threat of unionization in violation of their rights provides grounds for moving their legal challenge forward.

Click here to read the full release.

Minneapolis, MN (August 7, 2013) – With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, a group of Minnesota home-based childcare providers have appealed their federal challenge to a new law that seeks to forcibly unionize the state’s home-based childcare providers.

Jennifer Parrish from Rochester and 11 other providers from around the state filed the appeal yesterday after a U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota judge dismissed their lawsuit last month on the grounds that it was filed too soon. Foundation staff attorneys counter that childcare providers shouldn’t have to wait until their rights are violated to challenge the scheme, and that the threat of unionization in violation of their rights provides grounds for moving their legal challenge forward.

Parrish and other providers seek to halt implementation of a recently-passed law intended to designate American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) officials as the monopoly political representative of thousands of providers in the state, who are either owners of childcare businesses or family members who take care of related children.

Home-based childcare and personal care providers have challenged similar forced-unionization-by-government-fiat schemes in several states across the country, including Michigan and Illinois. The Illinois case is pending at the U.S. Supreme Court. Michigan ended its scheme after Foundation attorneys filed suit for providers there.

Foundation attorneys argue that such schemes violate the providers’ First Amendment right to choose with whom they associate to petition the government. The government does not have the power to force citizens to accept its handpicked political representation to lobby itself. Under the Minnesota scheme, after the union is installed it will then be empowered to confiscate dues from childcare providers for this forced so-called «exclusive representation.»

«Citizens have the power to select their political representation in government, not the other way around,» said Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation. «This scheme, which forces small business owners, and even grandma taking care of her grandchildren, into union political association is a slap in the face of fundamental American principles we hold dear.»

The providers also requested a court injunction halting implementation of the law pending the appeal.

Air Traffic Controller Files Charges against FAA, Union for Overt Religious Discrimination

Union had worker transferred to force him to work on Saturday, violating his religious beliefs and threatening his livelihood

Potomac, VA (August 6, 2013) – With the help of National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employee has filed charges against his employer and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) union with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Matthew Gray’s charges allege that union and FAA officials used his religious beliefs to punish him after he decided to resign from the union.

Gray, a Seventh-day Adventist, currently works at the FAA’s Potomac facility. After resigning his membership in NATCA because he believes union membership is contrary to his faith, Gray was informed by a union official on February 6 that he was being removed from his detail and transferred to another in which he would have to work on Saturdays as punishment for resigning from the union.

Click here to read the full release.

Potomac, VA (August 6, 2013) – With the help of National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employee has filed charges against his employer and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) union with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Matthew Gray’s charges allege that union and FAA officials used his religious beliefs to punish him after he decided to resign from the union.

Gray, a Seventh-day Adventist, currently works at the FAA’s Potomac facility. After resigning his membership in NATCA because he believes union membership is contrary to his faith, Gray was informed by a union official on February 6 that he was being removed from his detail and transferred to another in which he would have to work on Saturdays as punishment for resigning from the union.

Instead of standing up to the union, Gray’s manager told him that he was complying with the union’s transfer request because he «no longer represent[s] the best interests of NATCA.»

A central doctrine of Gray’s church is weekly worship, and not working, on Saturday. Gray’s old position allowed him to avoid any scheduling conflict between his work and religious obligations. By removing him from his old detail, however, union officials are effectively forcing Gray to work on Saturday, find a replacement every week, or lose his job.

Gray told union officials that he only resigned because of his religious beliefs and the transfer would cause a scheduling conflict with his religious obligations. NATCA ignored his objections and went through with the transfer request.

«It’s unconscionable that an independent-minded worker was punished for attempting to exercise his deeply-held religious beliefs,» said Patrick Semmens, Vice President of the National Right to Work Foundation. “Workers shouldn’t face retaliation for exercising their right not to join or affiliate with a labor union.»

«We hope the EEOC and the Federal Labor Relations Authority will quickly step in and safeguard Matthew Gray’s religious beliefs,» said Semmens.

Local FAA Worker Files Federal Charge Challenging Illegal Union Dues Scheme

Union officials refuse to acknowledge worker’s rights; continue taking dues despite his request

Myrtle Beach, SC (August 1, 2013) – A local Air Transportation Systems Specialist for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has filed a federal charge against the Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS) union for forcing him to pay union dues even though he is not a union member.

With the help of National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Daryl Reinsch of Conway filed the charge with the Federal Labor Relations Authority earlier this week.

On October 22, 2012, Reinsch resigned membership in the PASS union and timely revoked his union dues deduction authorization effective March 1, 2013, under the contract then in effect. Union officials use union dues deduction authorizations to have dues automatically withheld from employee paychecks.

However, FAA and PASS union officials refuse to acknowledge Reinsch’s dues deduction authorization revocation because the FAA and the union hierarchy signed a new monopoly bargaining agreement in December, after Reinsch timely resigned union membership and revoked his dues deduction authorization.

As a result, the FAA continues to collect, and PASS union officials continue to accept, union dues from Reinsch’s paychecks.

Click here to read the full release.

Myrtle Beach, SC (August 1, 2013) – A local Air Transportation Systems Specialist for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has filed a federal charge against the Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS) union for forcing him to pay union dues even though he is not a union member.

With the help of National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Daryl Reinsch of Conway filed the charge with the Federal Labor Relations Authority earlier this week.

On October 22, 2012, Reinsch resigned membership in the PASS union and timely revoked his union dues deduction authorization effective March 1, 2013, under the contract then in effect. Union officials use union dues deduction authorizations to have dues automatically withheld from employee paychecks.

However, FAA and PASS union officials refuse to acknowledge Reinsch’s dues deduction authorization revocation because the FAA and the union hierarchy signed a new monopoly bargaining agreement in December, after Reinsch timely resigned union membership and revoked his dues deduction authorization.

As a result, the FAA continues to collect, and PASS union officials continue to accept, union dues from Reinsch’s paychecks. Because Reinsch can only revoke his dues deduction authorization in January under the new monopoly bargaining agreement, he cannot ask again to stop dues payments until next year.

«Despite this worker doing exactly what he needed to do to refrain from paying union dues, those dues continue to be taken from his paychecks,» said Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation. «This case displays how union officials have the power to make it difficult for workers to exercise their right to refrain from paying union dues, even in situations where workers have Right to Work protections.»

Reinsch’s charge seeks to stop the confiscation of union dues, and a refund of all illegally-seized union dues, from his paychecks.

Worker Advocate Launches TV Ad Campaign Reaching Out to Area Healthcare Professionals

National Right to Work Foundation seeks to inform workers of their rights

Pittsburgh, PA (July 30, 2013) – The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation has launched an information campaign focusing on Pittsburgh-area hospital workers.

The Foundation launched the television ad campaign after receiving reports that a Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is stepping up pressure on the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to hand over its workers and allow them to be shoved into union ranks.

The ad campaign currently consists of a series of messages featuring healthcare professionals the Foundation has assisted in the past. The Foundation is the nation’s premier organization exclusively dedicated to providing free legal assistance to employee victims of forced unionism abuse.

Click here to read the full release.

Pittsburgh, PA (July 30, 2013) – The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation has launched an information campaign focusing on Pittsburgh-area hospital workers.

The Foundation launched the television ad campaign after receiving reports that a Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is stepping up pressure on the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to hand over its workers and allow them to be shoved into union ranks.

The ad campaign currently consists of a series of messages featuring healthcare professionals the Foundation has assisted in the past. The Foundation is the nation’s premier organization exclusively dedicated to providing free legal assistance to employee victims of forced unionism abuse.

Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation, issued the following statement regarding the TV ad campaign:

«The SEIU has been orchestrating a years-long ‘corporate campaign’ to compel UPMC management to stand down and allow union organizers to strong-arm the hospital’s employees into their forced union ranks. Often in situations like this, workers are caught in the struggle between union organizers and the company and are left in the dark about their workplace rights.

«That is why the Foundation has launched this ad campaign: To let workers know that they have a place to turn to learn about their rights.

«Workers seeking to learn more about their workplace rights or free legal aid can call the Foundation at 1-800-336-3600 or visit www.nrtw.org.»

Ford Motor Security Company, Local Union Face Federal Prosecution for Numerous Violations

Union officials discriminate against nonmembers

Dearborn, MI (July 30, 2013) – A security company and a Dearborn-based union are facing a federal prosecution for a litany of workers’ rights abuses.

The prosecution comes in the wake of a series of charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by three security guards, one of whom is receiving free legal assistance from National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys.

The three security guards filed the charges after their employer, AlliedBarton Security Services, entered into a monopoly bargaining agreement with the United Protective Workers of America (UPWA) Local 1 union hierarchy shortly before Michigan’s new Right to Work law took effect.

The agreement illegally requires AlliedBarton security guards working at Ford Motor Company facilities in Dearborn to join the UPWA union and pay full union dues as a condition of employment. The agreement also requires the security guards to irrevocably sign up for full union dues payments in order to receive signing bonuses.

Click here to read the full release.

Dearborn, MI (July 30, 2013) – A security company and a Dearborn-based union are facing a federal prosecution for a litany of workers’ rights abuses.

The prosecution comes in the wake of a series of charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by three security guards, one of whom is receiving free legal assistance from National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys.

The three security guards filed the charges after their employer, AlliedBarton Security Services, entered into a monopoly bargaining agreement with the United Protective Workers of America (UPWA) Local 1 union hierarchy shortly before Michigan’s new Right to Work law took effect.

The agreement illegally requires AlliedBarton security guards working at Ford Motor Company facilities in Dearborn to join the UPWA union and pay full union dues as a condition of employment. The agreement also requires the security guards to irrevocably sign up for full union dues payments in order to receive signing bonuses.

Moreover, UPWA union and company officials promoted union members, and union members received signing bonuses, but nonmembers were explicitly denied job promotions and signing bonuses on account of their union membership status.

UPWA union officials also refuse to follow federal disclosure requirements and demand that workers who want nothing to do with the union pay full union dues. Under federal law, workers who do not have Right to Work protections can still refrain from paying for union dues used for union politics and are entitled to an audited breakdown of union expenditures to make it less difficult to discern how their union dues and fees are spent.

Moreover, a group of security guards circulated a petition to remove the UPWA union from their workplace, union officials spied on, interrogated, and threatened workers who supported the effort.

«This case underscores just how important Michigan’s new Right to Work law is for Michigan’s workers,» said Mark Mix, President of National Right to Work. «No worker should ever be forced to pay union dues or fees to a union as a condition of their employment.»

Update: An NLRB hearing on the case is scheduled for September 30, 2013 at the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building in Detroit.