South Jersey Bus Drivers Hit IFPTE Union with Federal Lawsuit Challenging Unconstitutional Dues Seizures from Wages

Drivers tried to end IFPTE dues deductions from paychecks in January 2022 in accordance with documents they signed, but union kept taking money – leading to lawsuit

A group of Camden-area drivers for the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) is suing union officials in federal court for seizing money from their paychecks in violation of the First Amendment. The drivers are receiving free legal representation from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys.

The drivers argue that bosses of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 196 (IFPTE) union are violating their First Amendment rights recognized in the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision.

“IFPTE officials are demonstrating they clearly value union dues revenue over the rights of the workers they claim to ‘represent.’ Not only are those officials rebuffing clear notice from workers that they no longer want to support the union’s activities, but they’re enforcing a more restrictive dues policy about which workers had absolutely no knowledge,” commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. “Janus was unambiguous: A worker’s affirmative consent is required for any kind of dues deductions to occur. That standard was clearly not met here.”

“Foundation attorneys are proud to stand with public employees who fight for their First Amendment right to free association, even in the face of union coercion,” Mix added.

NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK LEGAL DEFENSE FOUNDATION

All contents from this article were originally published on the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation Website.

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