Videos

 

Former Union Vice President Fights for Right to Resign

Welch v. CSEA, Local 1000

New York community service officer Amber Welch wanted to make change in her union—so she became its vice president. That wasn’t enough, she concluded, to force the union to live by its values. When she attempted to resign from the union in protest, the union ignored her and kept taking her money. That’s when she contacted the Fairness Center.

 

Liquor Store Clerk Battles Union Officials’ Deception

Kabler v. UFCW, Local 1776

On John Kabler‘s first day as a Pennsylvania liquor store clerk, a union official told him that he had to join the union or find another job. That simply wasn’t true. But the president of the union, UFCW Local 1776, reiterated the ultimatum in writing. John needed legal help to defend his rights–and he found it at the Fairness Center.

 

Educator Seeks Legal Help to Leave Union

Thompson v. AFSCME, DC 89

Curtis Thompson tried to resign from his union because he felt it no longer best represented him. But the union refused to honor his resignation, enforcing their stringent resignation procedures during a 15-day window. Curtis defended his constitutional rights with the Fairness Center’s help.

 

Public Employee Sues to Recover Improperly Taken Dues

Spano Lonis v. SEIU, District 1199NE

After a three-year battle to keep her money from supporting union-backed causes that violated her religious beliefs, Cheryl Spano Lonis asked the Fairness Center for help. Within three months, her union relented and her problems were solved.

Commentaries

STANDING UP WHEN MY UNION LET ME DOWN

Commentary by Mindy McFetridge

I’M STUCK WITH AN ANTI-SEMITIC LABOR UNION

Commentary by Avraham Goldstein

“As a single mother, I’ve built my life around my daughter and her evolving needs […] I’ve become accustomed to overcoming obstacles at work and at home. My latest challenge involves both—defending myself from a union that made me choose between my daughter’s medical needs and my job.”

“[U]nion officials—who speak for me under state law—issued a resolution I, and many of my colleagues, view as anti-Semitic. Now I have a choice: Disrupt my life and damage my career again or rely on the constitutional protections that set America apart from most other countries on earth. I’m done running.”

PRIVATE-SECTOR UNIONS TRY TO STRIP
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RIGHTS

Commentary by Nathan McGrath

OFFENDED BY KANYE’S ANTISEMITISM?
EXAMINE ACADEMIA, TOO

Commentary by Jeffrey Lax

“I’ve represented union members fighting to defend their rights against some of the largest public-sector unions in the country. Now, I’m seeing a new trend: union officials in historically private unions across the Northeast outright denying that Janus applies to the public employees they represent.”

“[T]he same people who referred to Israel as an ‘apartheid’ state are negotiating the salary and working conditions of Jewish professors at CUNY. Absurd? I thought so, too, and several professors joined me in suing the union, CUNY, and the state of New York to escape the union for good.”

HOW MY 8-YEAR LAWSUIT
SETTLED PA. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RIGHTS

Commentary by Jane Ladley

RACIAL HARRASSMENT FROM UNION OFFICIALS
WON’T SILENCE ME

Commentary by Edward Seabron

“Backing down from a bully is not in my nature, nor would it have set a good example for my students. […] Teachers, firefighters, police officers and other Pennsylvania public employees now have a definitive judgment that says Pennsylvania’s ‘fair share’ fee law is illegal if unions ever try to enforce these unconstitutional fees.”

“After seeing the image for myself, I was shocked and disheartened—it looked to me like hate speech. […] Robbins’ abusive behavior is no secret, but he remains in his leadership position with the union. That’s why I’ve taken legal action. No one is holding him or the union accountable.”

WHY I PUT MY DREAM JOB ON THE LINE

Commentary by Glen Wilkofsky

CONFRONT CUNY’S ANTI-SEMITISM PROBLEM

Commentary by Jeffrey Lax

“For 20 years, I always paid my dues on time. I’d given the union so much money over the years, but the minute I questioned the value they provided, they tried to intimidate me. […] Standing on principle is never easy, especially when doing so could jeopardize something you love.”

“As a grandchild of four Holocaust survivors and a great-grandchild of eight victims of Nazi torture and murder, I can’t describe how appalling it is to be labeled a white supremacist. […] I believe no one should be forced to associate with a group that hates them.”

White House Swells Federal Union Ranks –
But at What Cost?

Commentary by Nathan McGrath

Pennsylvania’s ‘Right to Organize’ Amendment
Violates U.S. Constitution

Commentary by Danielle Acker Susanj

“Using the estimated dues of the largest federal employee union as an example, the new union members for which the Biden administration is taking credit could represent between $37 million and $46 million in annual dues revenue. And as these employees are ushered through the union door, union officials and government agencies appear determined to slam it behind them.”

“Just two sentences long, HB 950 could have far-reaching consequences on Pennsylvania law. Beyond establishing a constitutional right to organize, it would provide constitutional protections to agreements between government employers and unions that ‘requir[e] membership in an organization as a condition of employment.'”

HARTFORD FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
SHIRKED ITS DUTY TO REPRESENT ME

Commentary by John Grande

“Over 30 years of teaching service. Thousands of dollars in dues payments. A union appreciation plaque for being part of a team that negotiated Hartford teachers’ last good contract. None of this swayed union officials whose representation I, by law, must accept. I guess not all Hartford teachers matter to the union.”

STANDING UP WHEN MY UNION LET ME DOWN

Commentary by Mindy McFetridge

“As a single mother, I’ve built my life around my daughter and her evolving needs … Working a demanding job while caring for her hasn’t been easy, but I’ve become accustomed to overcoming obstacles at work and at home. My latest challenge involves both – defending myself from a union that made me choose between my daughter’s medical needs and my job.”

I’M STUCK WITH AN ANTI-SEMITIC LABOR UNION

Commentary by Avraham Goldstein

“[U]nion officials—who speak for me under state law—issued a resolution I, and many of my colleagues, view as anti-Semitic. Now I have a choice: Disrupt my life and damage my career again or rely on the constitutional protections that set America apart from most other countries on earth. I’m done running.”

PRIVATE-SECTOR UNIONS TRY TO STRIP PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RIGHTS

Commentary by Nathan McGrath

“I’ve represented union members fighting to defend their rights against some of the largest public-sector unions in the country. Now, I’m seeing a new trend: union officials in historically private unions across the Northeast outright denying that Janus applies to the public employees they represent.”

OFFENDED BY KANYE’S ANTISEMITISM? EXAMINE ACADEMIA AND UNIONS, TOO

Commentary by Jeffery Lax

“[T]he same people who referred to Israel as an ‘apartheid’ state are negotiating the salary and working conditions of Jewish professors at CUNY. Absurd? I thought so, too, and several professors joined me in suing the union, CUNY, and the state of New York to escape the union for good.”

HOW MY 8-YEAR LAWSUIT SETTLED PA. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RIGHTS

Commentary by Jane Ladley

“Backing down from a bully is not in my nature, nor would it have set a good example for my students. […] Teachers, firefighters, police officers and other Pennsylvania public employees now have a definitive judgment that says Pennsylvania’s ‘fair share’ fee law is illegal if unions ever try to enforce these unconstitutional fees.”

RACIAL HARRASSMENT FROM UNION OFFICIALS WON’T SILENCE ME

Commentary by Edward Seabron

“After seeing the image for myself, I was shocked and disheartened—it looked to me like hate speech. […] Robbins’ abusive behavior is no secret, but he remains in his leadership position with the union. That’s why I’ve taken legal action. No one is holding him or the union accountable.”

WHY I PUT MY DREAM JOB ON THE LINE

Commentary by Glen Wilkofsky

“For 20 years, I always paid my dues on time. I’d given the union so much money over the years, but the minute I questioned the value they provided, they tried to intimidate me. […] Standing on principle is never easy, especially when doing so could jeopardize something you love.”

CONFRONT CUNY’S ANTI-SEMITISM PROBLEM

Commentary by Jeffery Lax

“As a grandchild of four Holocaust survivors and a great-grandchild of eight victims of Nazi torture and murder, I can’t describe how appalling it is to be labeled a white supremacist. […] I believe no one should be forced to associate with a group that hates them.”

White House Swells Federal Union Ranks – But at What Cost?

Commentary by Nathan McGrath

“Using the estimated dues of the largest federal employee union as an example, the new union members for which the Biden administration is taking credit could represent between $37 million and $46 million in annual dues revenue. And as these employees are ushered through the union door, union officials and government agencies appear determined to slam it behind them.”

Pennsylvania’s ‘Right to Organize’ Amendment Violates U.S. Constitution

Commentary by Danielle Acker Susanj

“Just two sentences long, HB 950 could have far-reaching consequences on Pennsylvania law. Beyond establishing a constitutional right to organize, it would provide constitutional protections to agreements between government employers and unions that ‘requir[e] membership in an organization as a condition of employment.'”

HARTFORD FEDERATION OF TEACHERS SHIRKED ITS DUTY TO REPRESENT ME

Commentary by John Grande

“Over 30 years of teaching service. Thousands of dollars in dues payments. A union appreciation plaque for being part of a team that negotiated Hartford teachers’ last good contract. None of this swayed union officials whose representation I, by law, must accept. I guess not all Hartford teachers matter to the union.”