Teamster union officials have ordered AHF Products workers at the company’s Beverly, West Virginia plant to abandon their jobs and go on strike.
The situation raises serious concerns for workers who believe there is much to lose from engaging in a union-ordered strike.
Employees have the right under federal labor law to rebuff union officials’ strike demands, but it is important for you to be informed before you do so.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WORKING OR RETURN TO WORK DURING A STRIKE READ ALL OF THIS SPECIAL NOTICE BEFORE CROSSING A PICKET LINE TO WORK – IT MIGHT SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!
Teamster union officials have a decades long history of abusing workers’ rights and disciplining and firing workers who do not kowtow to their dictates. For example:
Federal Labor Board Announces Prosecution of Local Teamster Union Bosses For Threats Against Workers
Bus Drivers Slam the Brakes on Teamster Union Boss Intimidation and Threats
Seven Employees Force Settlement with Teamster Local Union Brass
Army Wives Driver Wins over $55k in Lost Wages After Teamster Union Boss Blacklisting
For this reason, AHF Products workers at the Beverly plant may want to contact the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation to learn how they can avoid fines and other vicious union discipline for continuing to report or returning to work to support themselves and their families. Much of the important information about your rights can be found on our website here. If you would like to request advice or help from Foundation attorneys, fill out this form or call 800-336-3600 toll free.
The Foundation wants you to learn about your legal rights from independent sources. You should not rely on what self-interested union officials tell you. For over four decades, Foundation attorneys have worked in the courts to protect and expand the rights of individual employees in situations such as strikes. It is the nation’s premier organization exclusively dedicated to providing free legal assistance to employee victims of forced unionism abuse.
Workers should know they have the following rights:
(1) You have the right to resign your membership in the union. If you don’t support this union, you can send the union a letter resigning your membership.
(2) You have the right to go to work even if the union bosses order a strike. Union officials can (and often do) levy burdensome monetary fines against union members who work during a strike. So, you should seriously consider resigning your union membership BEFORE you go to work during a strike. Resignation is the only way to avoid these ruinous union fines and discipline. See Union Discipline and Employee Rights. Your resignation letter must be postmarked THE DAY BEFORE you go to work during a strike, or be hand delivered to the union BEFORE you actually go to work.
(3) The West Virginia Right to Work law is in effect and applies to collective bargaining agreements entered into, modified, renewed, or extended after July 1, 2016. West Virginia workers cannot be compelled to pay union dues or fees once their collective bargaining agreement expires, and they resign from union membership and revoke any union dues deduction authorization they might have signed. You can find more information about West Virginia’s Right to Work Law here.
(4) Under federal labor law, employees can revoke their union dues deduction authorizations once a contract ends and is no longer in effect. Here is a sample letter for employees who wish to resign their union membership and stop paying union dues and fees.
NOTE: While not legally required, it is a better practice to send your letter to the union by certified mail, and save a copy of your letter and the certified mail receipts to prove delivery. If you hand deliver a letter, make sure that you have a reliable witness to the delivery. Union officials may deny they actually received resignations and initiate discipline against non-striking workers anyway.
(5) Depending on the timing, workers also have the right to vote the union out of their workplace, via a decertification or withdrawal of recognition process. Information can be found here.
