Federal Court Upholds Michigan’s Right to Work Law

Detroit, MI (March 31, 2014) – Today, a federal court upheld the major provisions of Michigan's recently-enacted Right to Work law. Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Foundation, issued the following statement in response to the court's ruling:"After suffering a major legislative defeat and being rejected by voters when they attempted to entrench forced unionism in the state constitution, Michigan union bosses are seeking to strike down Michigan's Right to Work law in the courts.

Foundation-Assisted Michigan Workers File Brief in Federal Court Supporting State Right to Work Law

Foundation-Assisted Michigan Workers File Brief in Federal Court Supporting State Right to Work Law Workers defend free choice for workers against spurious union boss legal challenge Detroit, MI (December 27, 2013) – Today, a federal court judge accepted an amicus curiae brief filed by four Michigan workers defending Michigan's recently-enacted Right to Work law from a union legal challenge pending before the court.

Foundation-Assisted Michigan Workers File Brief in Federal Court Supporting State Right to Work Law

Detroit, MI (December 27, 2013) – Today, a federal court judge accepted an amicus curiae brief filed by four Michigan workers defending Michigan's recently-enacted Right to Work law from a union legal challenge pending before the court.With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Terry Bowman, Brian Pannebecker, Aaric Lewis, and Robert Harris filed the brief last week with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.The case is a federal lawsuit filed by Michigan State AFL-CIO union officials seeking to overturn the law, arguing that because federal law preempts the enforcement of state Right to Work laws in certain limited respects, the whole law is invalid.

Indiana Regional Medical Center Nurse Files Federal Charges Against Union and Hospital

Indiana, PA (December 4, 2013) – An Indiana Regional Medical Center nurse has filed a federal unfair labor practice charge against her employer and a local nurse union for violating her rights.With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Joanna Smith of Clymer filed the charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).Starting in August 2003, Smith worked as a per diem float nurse, a position subject to the representation of the Indiana Registered Nurses Association (IRNA) Local 5120 union hierarchy. In June 2011, Smith was moved to a patient advocate position, which was not under the union monopoly bargaining control. Then, in November 2012, Smith returned to a float nurse position.In her charge against the union, Smith alleges that in September 2013, an IRNA Local 5120 union official illegally demanded that she join the union as a condition of her employment.

FirstEnergy Worker Wins Federal Settlement from Local Electrical Worker Union

Reading, PA (December 5, 2013) – A FirstEnergy Corp. worker has won a federal settlement from a local union after she filed a charge against the union with free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.The settlement comes after Deborah Adie of Orwigsburg filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In the charge, Adie stated that International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 777 union officials demanded she join the union or she would lose her job.

Utility Employee Seeks to Shut Off Forced Dues Scheme

Newark, NJ (October 28, 2013) – A Public Service Electric and Gas company worker has filed federal charges against a local union and his employer for violating his rights.With free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation, Gregory Lehman of Woodbridge, New Jersey, filed the unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).Lehman, who must accept Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153 officials' representation as a condition of his employment, alleges that union officials and company management demanded he join the union and pay full union dues or be fired and "escorted off the property."Under federal law, no worker can be forced to formally join a union. However, because New Jersey is not a Right to Work state, workers can be forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment.

FirstEnergy Worker Files Federal Charge Against Local Electrical Worker Union

Reading, PA (September 12, 2013) – A FirstEnergy Corp. worker has filed a federal charge against a local union for violating her rights.With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, Deborah Adie of Orwigsburg filed the charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In the charge, Adie alleges that International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 777 union officials demanded she join the union or she would lose her job.Under federal law, no worker can be forced to formally join a union. However, because Pennsylvania is not a Right to Work state, workers can be forced to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment. IBEW Local 777 union officials never informed Adie of her right to refrain from full-dues-paying union membership, a right upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Right to Work Foundation-won Communications Workers v. Beck case.

West Virginia Utility Worker Wins $10,000 Settlements from Penn Line Service, Local Laborer Union

West Virginia Utility Worker Wins $10,000 Settlements from Penn Line Service, Local Laborer Union Worker discharged from job for not contributing to "voluntary" union PAC Beckley, WV (May 31, 2013) – A former Penn Service Line, Inc. truck driver/laborer has won a substantial federal settlement from a Pennsylvania-based construction company and a West Virginia union after the company and union violated his rights and illegally seized union dues from his paychecks for the union's political action committee (PAC).

West Virginia Utility Worker Wins $10,000 Settlements from Penn Line Service, Local Laborer Union

Beckley, WV (May 31, 2013) – A former Penn Service Line, Inc. truck driver/laborer has won a substantial federal settlement from a Pennsylvania-based construction company and a West Virginia union after the company and union violated his rights and illegally seized union dues from his paychecks for the union's political action committee (PAC).Jeff Richmond of Meadow Bridge, WV, received free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.In July 2012, when Penn Line Service hired Richmond, company management told him that the job was a "union job." Between July and October, the company confiscated, and the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 453 accepted, full union dues from Richmond's paychecks even though he had not joined the union or consented to union dues payments.

Voluntary Emergency Responders Challenge Forced Unionism Scheme

Harford, MD (May 22, 2013) – Three Harford County emergency responders have filed charges against a local union for violating their rights and illegally demanding that they join the union.With free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation, the first responders filed the unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).Beginning in November 2012, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 4847 union became the exclusive bargaining representative of the emergency responders at Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Foundation. Between November and April, the union hierarchy never informed the workers of any financial obligations they would have to meet to keep working for the County Foundation.