Worker Who Criticized Union Official Defeats Attempt to Slap Him with Restraining Order

A Puerto Rico Trial Court has dismissed charges from a chapter president of the Unión Independiente Auténtica De Los Empleados De La Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (UIA) that sought to foist a restraining order on Reynaldo Cruz, an employee of the Puerto Rican Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA).

National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys are providing Cruz with free legal services in both this dispute and a lawsuit at the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, in which Cruz is challenging Puerto Rico laws authorizing public corporations and unions to require employees to maintain union membership and pay union dues as a condition of keeping their jobs. […]

“Mr. Cruz’s situation clearly shows how vindictive union officials will get if workers attempt to go against their agendas,” commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. “It’s outrageous that UIA union officials claim to ‘represent’ workers while continuing to take dues money from Mr. Cruz in violation of his Janus rights, and while seeking to saddle him with a restraining order merely for publishing ideas critical of union bosses.”

“This conundrum demonstrates why First Amendment Janus protections are so vital: Despite often acting directly against workers’ interests, union officials will often demand worker fealty through coercive or retaliatory means,” Mix added. “Janus lets workers push back against union boss pressure by withholding their hard-earned money from union coffers.”

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.

If you have questions about whether union officials are violating your rights, contact the Foundation for free help. To take action by supporting The National Right to Work Committee and fueling the fight against Forced Unionism, click here to donate now.