**Chicago, IL (December 19, 2006)** – A group of ten Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc. employees filed a wave of federal charges against the Teamsters Local 714 union today after union officials vindictively fined them for refusing to walk off the job during a Teamsters-mandated strike.

The metal processing workers obtained free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation to file the unfair labor practice charges at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), because Teamsters union officials illegally failed to notify the workers of their right to refrain from formal union membership and then issued retaliatory fines – some over $1,000 apiece – for continuing to work during the strike in March of this year.

Because the Teamsters hierarchy unlawfully failed to inform the workers of their right to refrain from formal union membership and to object to paying for the union’s nonrepresentational activities, such as politics, the employees thus cannot be considered voluntary members – and are not legally subject to internal union disciplinary measures, such as strike fines.

“These Teamsters officials went to great lengths to intimidate and stifle dissent,” said Stefan Gleason, vice president of the National Right to Work Foundation. “The union hierarchy has little regard for employees who want to support their families rather than toe the union line during an unpopular strike.”

The actions of Teamsters union officials violate employee rights recognized under the Foundation-won U.S. Supreme Court *Communications Workers v. Beck* decision. Under *Beck* and subsequent NLRB rulings, union officials must inform employees of their right to refrain from formal union membership and observe their right not to pay for costs unrelated to collective bargaining.

“Unfortunately, as long as Illinois workers labor without the protections of a Right to Work law – which makes union affiliation and dues payment strictly voluntary – abuses of this nature will surely continue throughout the Prairie State,” said Gleason.

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.