Union intimidation comes in all forms. Here’s one example. Don’t be intimidated. The National Right to Work Legal Foundation is here to help.
Dear Ross ,
Pay up or get fired.
That’s the message United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135 union bosses sent a teenage part-time Ralphs Grocery clerk in Oceanside, California.
And now with free legal aid from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, the teenager is fighting back.
These facts may sound familiar to longtime Right to Work supporters.
That’s because just six years ago, with free legal aid from Foundation staff attorneys, another California teenager who took a part-time job at a grocery store to help save money for college fought back against similar threats made by the very same union — with the same union president.
After Danielle Cookson’s story made the local news in 2007, union bosses backed off from some of their improper demands but persisted in trying to force her to pay more than can be legally required under the Foundation-won Communications Workers v. Beck U.S. Supreme Court case.
I can’t say I’m surprised they’re at it again.
It started in July when UFCW union bosses sent the Ralphs clerk a membership packet illegally stating that new hires must join the union and pay full dues as a condition of employment.
Finally, last month union officials threatened to have him fired and claimed he could only resign from the union by personally appearing at the union headquarters and providing union bosses with his social security number.
If you and I aren’t vigilant standing up for independent-minded workers, union bosses would bend, twist, and break the law even more than they already do.
And even if they get caught breaking the law once, union scofflaws might try it again or come up with a new scheme to violate workers’ rights.
That’s why I’m so grateful for you continued support helping the Foundation fight back against these schemes and expose them in the media.
Thank you for all you continue to do for worker freedom.
Sincerely,
Mark Mix
P.S. The Foundation relies completely on voluntary contributions from its supporters to provide free legal aid.
Please chip in with a tax-deductible contribution of $10 or more today to support the Foundation’s programs.
