Greensburg-based government workers file suit to leave union

Tribune-Review (Pittsburgh Area) ^ | 23 January 2019 | Steve Huba

[Vigilanteman]

Three Pennsylvania state employees based in Greensburg are suing their union after trying unsuccessfully to resign their membership last year.

The employees, all three of whom work for the state Department of Labor & Industry, say they have U.S. Supreme Court precedent on their side, including last year’s controversial 5-4 decision, Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31.

“Janus does have a significant impact on this case in that we believe a lot of people trying to resign from unions are trying to exercise their Janus rights,” said Nathan McGrath, vice president and director of litigation for the Fairness Center.

The Harrisburg-based public interest law firm hopes to turn the lawsuit into a class action of 100 people or more. About 9,000 public sector employees are covered by the three-year contract, he said.

McGrath noted that while Janus dealt specifically with the fees public-sector unions charge nonmembers, the new lawsuit addresses the issue of membership itself.

If membership is necessary for the charging of union fees, then maintenance of membership becomes a paramount concern for unions, he said.

“The membership issue has become a big issue across the country because this is the next step,” McGrath said. “Membership is the next real issue that’s left after (nonmember fees).”

The three plaintiffs – Megan James, William Lester and Angela Pease – tried to resign their membership in the Service Employees International Union, Local 668, in July 2018 but were told they had only a 15-day window to do so, according to the lawsuit.

[Vigilanteman]

Another big reason we have devolved into a two tier society is that most government employees are in a union. Most private sector workers are not.

In addition, private sector unions tend to be reasonable (Teamsters) whereas government unions are radical left (SEIU, NEA). Pushback is long overdue.

[Red Badger]

Welcome to the Hotel California....................

[Reily]

You left out TEU !
The dominate Treasury agencies like the IRS.