Ashley wins settlement after IRS, union deny her rights

Kjarbo v. IRS | Kjarbo v. NTEU

Ashley Kjarbo wanted to save some money by resigning her union membership. But union officials and the IRS, her employer, teamed up against her. It was an unfair fight—until Ashley found the Fairness Center.

Ashley’s unfair labor practice charge forced the IRS to apologize and commit to not interfere with employees’ rights.

ASHLEY FACES NTEU’S RESIGNATION ROADBLOCKS


Ashely, a New York IRS employee, was facing financial difficulty and wanted to stop paying monthly union dues. So, she filled out a form to resign her membership in the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). But union officials did everything they could to thwart her.

First, NTEU officials ignored her. Then, officials demanded that she convince the local union president to approve and sign her resignation form. When Ashley persisted, the union escalated its efforts to keep her locked in.

UNION OFFICIALS ENLIST THE IRS TO KEEP ASHLEY TRAPPED


An NTEU president emailed Ashley’s IRS supervisor, complaining that she was telling a “fabricated tale of woe.” They asked the supervisor for help in shutting her up.

Shockingly, the IRS did the union official’s bidding. Ashley’s supervisor issued her a written reprimand in her employee file that accused her of “discourteous and unprofessional behavior.” The letter warned that if she did not stop, she would face further discipline.

TAKING ON THE IRS AND A UNION AT THE SAME TIME


A massive federal agency and a union representing 150,000 employees were aligned against her, but Ashley was determined to find a way to act on her rights. Then she found the Fairness Center.

On Ashley’s behalf, we filed unfair labor practice charges with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) against the union and the IRS.

ASHLEY WINS APOLOGY AND SETTLEMENT FROM IRS


The FLRA found enough evidence to charge the IRS with an unfair labor practice, which consequently brought the agency to the negotiating table. As part of a settlement with Ashley, the IRS rescinded the disciplinary letter from her employee file. Plus, the agency sent Ashley’s colleagues a notice committing to not “interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights.”

Ashley’s refusal to take “no” for answer in the face of powerful opposition ensured 2,500 of her colleagues will have their rights protected.

Kjarbo v. IRS is closed.

Kjarbo v. NTEU is before the Federal Labor Relations Board.


Documents

Ashley Kjarbo wanted to save some money by resigning her union membership. But union officials and the IRS, her employer, teamed up against her. It was an unfair fight—until Ashley found the Fairness Center.

Ashley’s unfair labor practice charge forced the IRS to apologize and commit to not interfere with employees’ rights.

ASHLEY FACES NTEU’S RESIGNATION ROADBLOCKS


Ashely, a New York IRS employee, was facing financial difficulty and wanted to stop paying monthly union dues. So, she filled out a form to resign her membership in the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). But union officials did everything they could to thwart her.

First, NTEU officials ignored her. Then, officials demanded that she convince the local union president to approve and sign her resignation form. When Ashley persisted, the union escalated its efforts to keep her locked in.

UNION OFFICIALS ENLIST THE IRS TO KEEP ASHLEY TRAPPED


An NTEU president emailed Ashley’s IRS supervisor, complaining that she was telling a “fabricated tale of woe.” They asked the supervisor for help in shutting her up.

Shockingly, the IRS did the union official’s bidding. Ashley’s supervisor issued her a written reprimand in her employee file that accused her of “discourteous and unprofessional behavior.” The letter warned that if she did not stop, she would face further discipline.

TAKING ON THE IRS AND A UNION AT THE SAME TIME


A massive federal agency and a union representing 150,000 employees were aligned against her, but Ashley was determined to find a way to act on her rights. Then she found the Fairness Center.

On Ashley’s behalf, we filed unfair labor practice charges with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) against the union and the IRS.

ASHLEY WINS APOLOGY AND SETTLEMENT FROM IRS


The FLRA found enough evidence to charge the IRS with an unfair labor practice, which consequently brought the agency to the negotiating table. As part of a settlement with Ashley, the IRS rescinded the disciplinary letter from her employee file. Plus, the agency sent Ashley’s colleagues a notice committing to not “interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights.”

Ashley’s refusal to take “no” for answer in the face of powerful opposition ensured 2,500 of her colleagues will have their rights protected.

Kjarbo v. IRS is closed.

Kjarbo v. NTEU is before the Federal Labor Relations Board.


Documents

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“I really appreciate what the Fairness Center did for me. A lot of people are scared to stand up for themselves against unions. Because of the Fairness Center, I wasn’t afraid.”
– Ray Michielini, Long Island Railman