Caught on Tape: Union Boss Accepts Cash Bribes
The following movie clip is actual FBI undercover footage of a United Transportation Union (UTU) bagman accepting a cash bribe on behalf of the union’s president.
The footage underscores why the National Right to Work Foundation is leading the fight to free America’s workers from forced unionism, and how compulsory unionism and corruption go hand-in-hand.
Imposition of Forced Union Dues a “Dirty Deal”
The Denver Post published an article earlier this week featuring the NRTW Foundation’s work on behalf of state employees in Washington in 2006, including Patricia Woodward. Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) union officials ordered Ms. Woodward fired for refusal to pay dues. In the Post article, her niece, Darla Branif, called the imposition of forced dues on Washington state employees a "dirty deal."
In 2006 WFSE spokesman Tim Welch told dissenting employees exactly what he thought when asked by a local newspaper:
"You can choose to be a member of the union, you can choose to pay a fee. But ultimately, if you don’t like that, you can choose to be unemployed."
Sadly, with no Right to Work law in place in Washington, Welch is right. However, employees in Washington did fight back with the Foundation’s help. Watch Patricia Woodward’s statement at a related press conference below.
Republican NLRB Appointee Allows Union Featherbedding
In a disturbing move that further underscores the Bush administration’s mismanagement of the National Labor Relations Board, NLRB General Counsel Ronald Meisburg has inexplicably added activist Democrat Dennis Walsh to his staff in recent days. Walsh is a militant union-boss partisan who had just vacated an expired recess appointment to the five member NLRB — a recess appointment that he should never have received from President Bush in the first place. Rather than receiving a make-work job within the bureaucracy while he pines away for yet another Board seat, Walsh should instead return to private employment. As a voting member, Walsh had worked to undermine employee free choice and to empower union bosses to coerce workers into union ranks. It’s outrageous that he would be rewarded with a new post at Bush’s NLRB.
Employees Hit Union with Federal Charges After Being Slapped with $120,000 in Illegal Retaliatory Fines
Oostburg, WI (January 7, 2008) – With free legal aid from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, four Pre-Heat, Inc. employees have filed federal charges against the Sheet Metal Workers International Association union for exorbitant and illegal retaliatory fines levied against them.
The employees, led by Patrick Keefe, filed the unfair labor practice charges at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Sheet Metal Workers Local 18. Union officials hit them with fines of $30,000 each after they resigned their formal union membership and returned to work during a union-ordered strike. Nonunion members are not subject to internal union discipline.
Following their resignations, Keefe and his coworkers also began gathering signatures for a decertification election, an NLRB-supervised secret ballot election to oust a union, which is generally an uphill battle for workers to obtain. However, the employees’ efforts resulted in a majority of employees signing the petition to oust the unpopular union, and Pre-Heat, Inc. then withdrew recognition from the union because it no longer had the employees’ support.
After the strike ended, in November 2007, union officials ordered Keefe and his four coworkers to attend a Sheet Metal Workers union internal kangaroo court held for the purpose of punishing them for exercising their legal rights. Union agent Patrick Landgraf charged the employees with violating the union’s constitution. In his written statement during the union trial, Landgraf claimed Keefe and the others “selfishly crossed” the picket line for “this rat contractor” and accused the employees of preventing the union from obtaining a new contract. Landgraf did not mention that his union had been resoundingly rejected by the workers.
Because they were not members of the union, Keefe and the other employees chose not to show up at the “trial.” In their absence, the union’s Executive Board found the employees “guilty” of all charges, fining them a total of $120,000. Sheet Metal Workers union officials ordered Keefe and the three other workers to pay the illegally imposed fines within 30 days.
“It is unconscionable for union bosses to attempt to drive workers into the poorhouse in vicious retaliation for returning to work,” said Stefan Gleason, vice president of the National Right to Work Foundation. “This union intimidation is all too common in states like Wisconsin where there is no Right to Work law on the books.”
A Right to Work law secures the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union. The NLRB’s Regional Office will now investigate the charges and decide whether to issue a formal complaint and prosecute the union.
National Right to Work Foundation Launches Online Video Updates
Here’s a new video from National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation President Mark Mix thanking supporters for helping the Foundation fight compulsory unionism online by creating cutting edge video content in its new in-house production studio.
Michigan Union Boss Whines About Right to Work
Over at the Times Herald’s opinion section, another union boss whined about the growing Right to Work movement in Michigan. The ex construction union chief had this to say:
“If Michigan becomes a right-to-work state, you might as well pack your bags and leave it.”
The problem is (as we have repeatedly reported here) Michiganders are already leaving the state – precisely because of Big Labor’s forced unionism stranglehold. The lack of a Right to Work law has not only deprived employees of their freedom of association, but it has also contributed to Michigan’s skyrocketing unemployment levels and heavy taxes.
Right to Work laws guarantee that no person can be compelled, as a condition of employment, to join or not to join, nor to pay dues to a labor union. It’s no wonder Michiganders are packing their bags for Right to Work states.
Let’s hope that this situation changes before the state’s economy collapses.
Teamsters Picket Update: 10 Arrested for Threatening Conduct
Following up with Justin’s post on an ugly Teamsters picket in Somerville, Massachusetts, today’s news stories report that 10 Teamsters thugs were arrested during the mess.
The Somerville News has the story:
10 Teamsters were arrested “for rude, offensive and threatening conduct,” according to police.
The owner of Russell Disposal, Charles Carneglia, explained that he feared for his safety after Teamsters militants harassed him when he entered the facility:
…when Carneglia walked to front gate the Teamsters would begin taunting and catcalling him. “Ya piece of s**t,” yelled one picketer Thursday afternoon. “You’re a criminal.”
After the incident last week, Local 25 chief Sean O’Brien was apparently “too busy” to address repeated press inquires. Unable to answer for the Teamsters union notorious and thuggish actions, it’s no wonder this union boss went into hiding.
Employment Opportunities at the National Right to Work Foundation
Are you interested in protecting American citizens from compulsory unionism and other union special privileges’ If so, check out these employment opportunities with the National Right to Work Foundation:
Development Assistant
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation seeks a Development Assistant to help the Foundation raise the funds needed for its battle to protect American citizens from compulsory unionism and other union special privileges. The successful candidate will write, edit, and proofread fundraising letters, grant proposals, and newsletter articles. Some familiarity with Microsoft Access or similar programs is desirable but not required. This position offers an excellent opportunity to learn about nonprofit fundraising and develop valuable skills.
Strong writing ability and a commitment to individual liberty are essential.
To apply send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Duncan Clark, Development Director, at rdc@nrtw.org. No phone calls please.
Deputy Communications Director
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation seeks an energetic Deputy Communications Director to join a growing public outreach program within a respected and established organization working to protect American citizens from compulsory unionism and other union special privileges.
The successful candidate will implement public relations strategies, respond to media inquiries, as well as work with cutting edge technology to produce online video content in the Foundation’s in-house TV studio. Writing tasks include drafting newsletter articles, op-eds, press releases, and some direct mail copywriting.
Outstanding writing and communications skills are essential, as is a strong commitment to limited government and individual liberty. This is an entry-level position.
Interested applicants should send a resume and writing sample(s) (amounting to at least 800 words) to Justin Hakes via email at jah@nrtw.org or fax: (703) 321-9613. No phone calls please.
Grants Administrator
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation seeks a highly motivated individual in its grant seeking program which raises funds to combat the abuses of union coercive power. Responsibilities include identifying and researching foundations, tracking and fulfilling deadlines for proposals and reports, and assisting in cultivation of major donors as well as the development of new funding sources. Applicants should have excellent writing skills and should be well organized, detail-oriented, and a team player.
A commitment to limited government and individual liberty is essential.
To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample(s) to Ginny Smith, Director of Strategic Programs, at gms@nrtw.org or National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, 8001 Braddock Road, Springfield, VA 22160. No phone calls please.
Iowa’s New Year’s Resolution: Protect Right to Work
As many people across the nation make their New Year’s resolutions, one state representative in Iowa has vowed not to give up on employee free choice in the Hawkeye State in 2008. The Ottumwa Courier reports:
State Representative Betty DeBoef said the first major issue that comes to mind for the upcoming year is a bill the Iowa House will vote on.
“The one thing I really hope is that we do not pass the bill that will decimate Iowa’s 60-year-old right-to-work law. Iowa being a right-to-work state has served our state well. It provides a business-friendly environment for companies that want to come to Iowa,” she said. “Passing that bill would be a mistake.”
DeBoef warned of other ramifications if the Right to Work law is lost:
“A number of teachers I know do not support the agenda of the NEA and the ISCA [teacher unions], and they would be forced to pay dues to these unions even though they don’t agree with their agenda.”
For more reasons why Iowa’s highly-popular Right to Work law is so vital, please read this study.
It Is For Unions, Period.
The readers’ forum section in West Virginia’s Charleston Gazette featured a great commentary from one local reader about the so-called “Employee Free Choice Act,” a bill that would lead to even more union intimidation during organizing drives. The following was his response after one AFL-CIO union boss claimed that “employees are not being allowed to join unions.”
“The Employee Free Choice Act is not for employees. It is for unions, period. Under that proposed act, unions can get employees signed up on union cards, even in a pizza parlor after three beers, before three or four other pushy union officials.”
For more information about in-your-face card check schemes, read these studies conducted by the National Institute for Labor Relations Research.
