Zeigler v. AFSCME, Council 13 (Federal)

The Fairness Center represents LuAnn Zeigler, who works for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, in a lawsuit against AFSCME, Council 13 (“Council 13”).

Ms. Zeigler resigned her union membership at the beginning of 2020 after becoming dissatisfied with Council 13’s representation, particularly after learning that she was not given the opportunity to vote on the new collective bargaining agreement that governs her terms and conditions of employment, even though union officials told her she would have a chance to vote.

Despite acknowledging Ms. Zeigler’s resignation, Defendant unions continued to have dues withheld from Ms. Zeigler’s paycheck. In 2018, the United States Supreme Court held in Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31, 138 S. Ct. 2448 (2018), that nonmember public-sector employees cannot be forced to pay money to unions as a condition of their employment, and must make a knowing and voluntary waiver of their rights before money is taken from them. Because Ms. Zeigler never made a knowing and voluntary waiver of her constitutional rights, she brings this lawsuit to enforce her right not to pay a union against her will. In her lawsuit, she seeks an end to the dues being withheld from her and a refund of the dues taken from her since her resignation, among other relief.