Workers in Ypsilanti and Petoskey Successfully End Union Bosses’ Power to Demand Dues as Similar Efforts Rise Across MI

Two sets of workers from across the state of Michigan have successfully voted to strip union officials of their powers to force them to pay union dues as a condition of keeping their jobs. Mechanics from Brown Motors (a Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep dealer) in Petoskey and drivers from MV Transportation in Ypsilanti have voted by 75% and 78% respectively to remove union bosses’ forced-dues powers in a process known as a “deauthorization vote”. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency responsible for enforcing federal labor law, certified the results of both elections earlier this week.

Both sets of workers received free legal aid from National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys in obtaining the elections. Joseph Illes submitted a “deauthorization petition” in May on behalf of his Brown Motors coworkers, who wanted to revoke forced-dues privileges from Teamsters union officials. Robert Gray handled a similar petition for his colleagues at MV Transportation, who sought to deauthorize the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU). NLRB rules require that at least 30% of a work unit sign onto a deauthorization petition to trigger a deauthorization election. […]

“Despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of Michiganders wanted Right to Work to remain in place, Michigan legislators repealed it on a narrow party-line vote as a giveaway to the union boss puppeteers that fund their campaigns,” commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. “Within just months of the repeal becoming effective, workers from all corners of the state are requesting – and winning – votes to stop union bosses from forcing them to pay dues, showing that Michigan workers are not going to take this attack on their individual rights sitting down.”

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.