Hotel Union Bosses Wanted Employee Fired for Talking About “Workplace Rights”

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation steps in again to defend an employee from union boss intimidation.  From the  Star-Advertiser Staff and News Services :

An employee at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa has filed another unfair labor practice complaint against Unite Here Local 5, the union representing most of Oahu’s hotel workers.

The complaint alleges union officials attempted to have Grant Suzuki fired for resigning from the union, refusing to pay dues and informing co-workers of their workplace rights, according to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation Inc., a nonprofit, charitable organization that provides free legal aid to employees against compulsory unionism.

Suzuki filed a successful unfair labor practice charge in 2008 requiring the union to return union dues that he believed were illegally taken. He said he has since been targeted for harassment for informing his co-workers of their rights to opt out of union dues, resign from union membership and work during a union-instigated strike, according to a press release issued by the organization.

Union officials agreed to a settlement with Suzuki in 2009 to refund all dues collected for activities unrelated to workplace bargaining and post public notices informing hotel employees of their rights. However, following the settlement, union officials harassed Suzuki and attempted to have him fired, the organization said.

The National Labor Relations Board said it is investigating Suzuki’s complaint. A call to a Local 5 representative was not returned.