Union Bosses Set Forest Fire Captain’s Religious Rights Ablaze
Union officials and state play God with firefighter’s rights
San Francisco, CA (May 21, 2012) – A California Department of Forestry fire captain has filed a religious discrimination charge against the California Department of Forestry Firefighters (CDFF) union for violating his statutory right to refrain from paying forced union dues to support a union hierarchy involved in activities he considers immoral.
With free legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation attorneys, Susanville firefighter John Valentich filed the charge against the CDFF union with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission located in San Francisco.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act forbids discrimination against religious employees and requires companies and unions to attempt to reasonably accommodate employees' sincerely-held religious beliefs. The obligation to accommodate applies to the payment of compulsory union fees, as no employee should be forced to fund a union that engages in activities that offend their religious convictions.
Because California does not have a Right to Work law, nonmember workers can be forced to pay union dues and fees. However, employees who have a sincere religious objection to supporting a union – regardless of church affiliation – may divert their compulsory union dues to a charity instead.
Valentich, who has sincere religious beliefs which bar him from joining or paying money to the CDFF union, asked union officials for a religious accommodation that would allow him to redirect his union fees to a mutually agreed-upon charity. The union's lawyer told Valentich that he was not a member of a church authorized for accommodation by California law, and therefore he was not entitled to an accommodation.
"It is outrageous that union officials and state bureaucrats get to decide which religions are state-approved and which are not," said Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation. "If someone has a sincere religious objection to supporting a union thought to be immoral, his or her rights should be respected."
"This case provides another reason why California desperately needs to pass Right to Work protections for its workers making union affiliation and dues payments completely voluntary."
Comments
Living Wage
Living wage would refer to a person being able to comfortably afford a house, a car, to raise kids, and every once in a blue moon have a small vacation. But in the ever growing race to the bottom these few priceless things are unaffordable to masses. While a lush few enjoy these and much much more.
I have been in a building and trades union since I graduated in '99, and have had the fortunate ability to maintain these few things except a vacation. I only have made on average 40k to 45k, and that's in my last 7 years after going through our apprenticeship to become a journeyman roofer. I don't spend money on items that are outpriced our unreasonable, and I try to buy american union or not. Total house income is around 60k with wife. We are finding it increasingly hard to maintain our house and living conditions.
I'm a proud union member for I know the other companies that are not, do not offer health care, pensions, death benefits, and training. They also pay very low wages and offer these benefits at an extra cost, maybe. I've talked to hundreds of non-union roofers and they have learned to do with out these simple things. Yes there are a few at each shop who make a decent wage and some benefits, but the general workers and laborers are left with scraps. Most are very deserving of a better wage equal to their counterparts but say nothing in fear of losing what job they do have. Yes some are not as efficient as others but we are all working togther to finish a product. And when the business owner is making 10-20x what his workers are making it is sad, and should be criminal. I understand they take alot of risk in being a business owner and they do deserve to make more, but not at the expense of others.
And please don't tell me how my union is sending jobs overseas. I roof commercial buildings and I don't see anyone moving their building overseas to get roofed and then come back. Also we pay for our own pensions, health care, and apprenticeships with our OWN money and not the tax payer. My union does not have some form of TENURE, if your not worth the money your making you get let go to work for the other companies who hire for LESS. So please quit refering to every union as corrupt and overpaid, not every union operates the same.
Overbearing religion
"not a member of a church authorized for accommodation by California law" says it all. I would suspect that this man was coerced into filing, seeing how he's not an actual church member. There are hundreds of groups who claim to be a religion to evade certain laws with claims of religous beliefs. Watched a 60min episode years ago of a couple who formed a "religion" which beleived in their rights to do "illegal drugs". This nation has gotten out of hand when it comes to "my religious beliefs". I'm still dumbfounded how the catholics can even operate after the scandals with little boys.
reply to roofer.
Roofer that response u just posted would say that california law trumps the constitution of the united states of america. Every american has the right to freedom of religion whether or not it is a "religion" in your opinion or not! Maybe u should re read the constituion agai. And thenu can open ur mouth some more about stuff you obviously know nothing about. But thats whats wtong with america these days u dont even know the basic freedoms given to us by our founding fathers.. try again bucko.. go get mr. Valentich!
Religion
I don't act like I know the constitution forwards and back, and doubtful you do either. I do know a person has a freedom to believe in what ever they want. Just don't go asking for special favors because it offends your "religious beliefs". Seperation of church and state which has no value, due to the overbearing and money hungry religions who donate their tides to politicains to force their views on all of america. While their raping little boys and paying off families with your tides. That's Godly, huh.
And yes state laws do trump some national laws, but of course you know it all. Maybe you should focus on spelling and punctuation. I can hardly read your statement, normally I let a few errors go unsaid, but I could have swore this was written by a 8 year old.