Right to Work-Represented Employee’s Case Advances at Trump NLRB
Just a little over three years ago, Big Labor politicians in Lansing rammed legislation destroying Michigan’s decade-old Right to Work law through the state General Assembly. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, obeying her union-boss political paymasters, then signed this anti-employee, anti-job creation scheme into law.
Since Right to Work repeal took effect in early 2024, union bosses in the Wolverine State have repeatedly exploited their reinstituted forced-dues privileges to coerce unwilling workers to bankroll union political and other non-bargaining activities.
Apparently, they aren’t in the least troubled by the fact that, even post Right to Work, such Big Labor coercion continues to be illegal in Michigan and every other state under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Fortunately, thanks to a Grand Rapids-based aviation worker who knows his rights under the NLRA and is willing to fight to exercise them, along with Right to Work attorneys who are representing him, greedy local United Auto Workers (UAW) union bosses may soon be held accountable for breaking the law.
In late January, just a few weeks after the U.S. Senate confirmation of two Trump appointees had ended the radically pro-forced unionism Biden era at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Board issued a formal complaint against UAW Local 330 and GE Aviation Systems.
According to the complaint, UAW bosses who supposedly “represent” this independent-minded worker, Richard Howard, illegally demanded that his employer fire him, and GE Aviation Systems managers illegally acquiesced to this demand.
Nearly 40-Year-Old, Right to Work-Won High Court Ruling Brazenly Violated, Says NLRB
National Right to Work Committee Vice President John Kalb observed that it’s been nearly 40 years since the U.S. Supreme Court decided in CWA v. Beck, a case advanced and won by Right to Work attorneys on behalf of a Maryland-based communications worker.
“In Beck,” explained Mr. Kalb, “the High Court made it clear that the NLRA prohibits Big Labor from forcing workers who have opted out of union membership to pay dues for ‘nonchargeable’ union expenditures, which include political and ideological activities.
“While Michigan’s Right to Work repeal unfortunately means employees can be fired for refusing to fork over money to a union, it doesn’t mean union bosses can brazenly violate Beck and demand that employees be fired for refusing to bankroll activities that are nonchargeable under the NLRA.
“But according to the NLRB complaint, that’s exactly what UAW Local 330 bosses did. Then GE Aviation Services illegally fired Richard Howard at their behest.”
Nationwide Contract Falsely Tells UAW Employees They Must Become Full Members
Mr. Kalb added that lawless termination threats are standard practice in the UAW. In fact, even the “historic” nationwide autoworker contract secured by international UAW President Shawn Fain in 2023 falsely tells employees they must become “members of the Union,” which entails paying for UAW politics and lobbying, “as a condition of continued employment.”
“The contempt Big Labor bosses like Shawn Fain and his lieutenants display for workers’ legal rights illustrates why they shouldn’t be afforded the power to force workers to fork over any money whatsoever to a union in order to keep their jobs,” said Mr. Kalb.
“The good news in Michigan is that freedom-loving citizens have a real shot this year at electing a pro-Right to Work governor and General Assembly majorities who will vote to reinstate the former ban on forced union dues and fees once they are seated in 2027.
“As they await with hope the outcome of Right to Work attorneys’ NLRB case to get Richard Howard his job back, Committee members and their allies in Michigan are contacting candidates for state offices this year, urging them to pledge 100% opposition to forced unionism.
“And this fall, thanks to a candidate survey program being carried out by the grassroots Michigan Right to Work Committee, Michiganders will know when they go to the polls exactly who on the ballot supports the freedom of employees to get and keep a job without joining a union, and who doesn’t.”
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