On May 1, International Association of Machinist (IAM) union officials ordered all workers to abandon their jobs and go on strike at the Caterpillar Inc. plant in Joliet, Illinois.
The situation raises serious concerns for workers who believe there is much to lose from continuing 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 RETURN TO WORK DURING A STRIKE READ ALL OF THIS SPECIAL NOTICE BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK – IT MIGHT SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!
IAM union officials have a decades long history of disciplining, fining and abusing workers who do not kow-tow to their dictates.
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For this reason, many workers 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 onerous monetary fines against union members who work during a strike. So, you should seriously consider resigning your union membership BEFORE you return to work during a strike, which 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 return to work, or hand delivered BEFORE you actually return to work.
3) You have the right to become a "Beck objector" and pay only reduced financial core fees instead of full membership dues. If you become a Beck objector, you will not be forced to pay for the IAM union’s far left political and social agenda.
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 become Beck objectors.
NOTE: While not legally required, it is a better practice to send your letter to the union by certified mail, return receipt requested, and save a copy of your letter and the return receipt to prove delivery. If you hand deliver a letter, make sure that you have a reliable witness to the delivery. In our experience, angry and dishonest union officials often pretend they did not actually receive resignations and initiate discipline against non-striking workers anyway.
