EEOC Charge: AFT union officials unlawfully refused Christian nurse’s request for religious accommodation to union dues payment

Seattle, WA (September 2, 2026) – A Washington nurse has filed a federal Charge of Discrimination against the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), stating that union officials have engaged in religious discrimination by illegally denying her request for religious accommodation. The nurse, Rheanne Garrett, submitted her charges at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) with free legal representation by National Right to Work staff attorneys.

Since Washington State lacks Right to Work protections, union officials have the power to compel workers under their monopoly bargaining power to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment. However, under decades old precedents established by National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, if funding a union violates employees’ sincere religious beliefs, then they are entitled to a religious accommodation to union financial support.

Both the WSNA and the AFT have extensive histories of using their power and significant resources to promote pro-abortion and pro-LGBT causes that are antithetical to Garrett’s faith. Due to her sincere religious convictions, Garrett chose to exercise her religious freedom by refusing to affiliate with, or financially support, either of the unions and their activism that conflicts with her religious beliefs.

EEOC Charge: Union Unlawfully Discriminating with Repeated Blanket Denials, Harassment

In early May, Garrett sent an email to the WSNA describing her sincerely held religious convictions and requested an accommodation from the requirement to join or pay dues to the union. For the next two months, email exchanges between Garrett and union officials proved unfruitful, despite Garrett even having provided a letter from her pastor that attested to her sincerely held religious beliefs. Although Garrett repeatedly sent the union more than sufficient information to justify her request, the union offered only blanket denials, insisting without explanation that she did not qualify for a religious accommodation.

If the EEOC finds merit to Garrett’s charges, the agency will either take legal action against the WSNA itself, or will issue a “right to sue” letter to Garrett, which will entitle her to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the union in federal court.

“By denying my repeated requests for a religious accommodation and holding the threat of discharge over me for refusing to compromise my religious beliefs,” Garrett explains, “the Unions are violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and parallel state laws.

“The Unions are also engaging in quid-pro-quo harassment by threatening my job unless I compromise my religious convictions by joining or paying monies to the Unions,” Garrett said.

“The Foundation is proud to help working women like Ms. Garrett who courageously stand up to protect their religious beliefs from the schemes of radical union officials,” commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. “While the battle to preserve the right of religious employees opposed to funding union activities for religious reasons is important, more fundamental reform is needed to ensure that no one is forced to fund or associate with union bosses against their will, no matter whether their personal objection is political, religious, financial, or otherwise.”