Workers Sue Local Teamsters Union for Hiding Political Spending
In the midst of a close election, secretive union is socked with federal charges
FOR RELEASE: October 31, 2000
Janesville, WI. (October 31, 2000) -- Eight employees filed federal charges today against a local Teamsters union for illegally forcing them and countless workers to pay union dues for politics. With Wisconsin playing a pivotal role in the outcome of this year’s presidential election, forced union dues may tip the scales toward Big Labor’s handpicked candidate.
National Right to Work Foundation attorneys filed unfair labor practices charges against Teamsters union local 579 with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on behalf of eight employees at Janesville Products, after union officials demanded that the employees pay almost full union dues, much of which the employees assert is used for politics.
“During one of the closest presidential elections in American history, union bosses have stripped workers of their right to participate freely in the democratic process,” said Foundation Director of Legal Information Randy Wanke.
In a letter to the employees, who are not members of the union, Local 579 union officials demanded that they pay nearly full union dues or be fired. Under the Foundation-won U.S. Supreme Court decision CWA v. Beck, union officials cannot force employees to pay union dues for activities not related to collective bargaining, like politics.
In an attempt to protect their rights, employees requested that union officials provide an independent audit to prove that the forced union dues were not being used for politics. Under the Foundation-won decision in Chicago Teachers Union v. Hudson, the U.S. Supreme Court requires union officials to provide an independently audited financial disclosure and justify the lawfulness of their expenditures before seizing any forced union dues from the employees. Secretive Teamsters union officials have refused to provide the Supreme Court-mandated independent audit.
The charges also state that union officials have failed to set up a procedure through which employees can challenge the forced dues amount and illegally demanded that employees sign a dues check-off authorization.
During this year’s election, union officials are depending heavily on forced union dues to influence the outcome. It’s estimated that Big Labor could spend nearly $800 million, most of which comes from forced union dues, during the election.
“With Wisconsin playing such an important role in this year’s presidential election, forced union dues may tip the scales toward the Teamsters union’s handpicked candidate,” said Wanke.
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, is assisting thousands of employees in over 500 cases nationwide.
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