Freedom Foundation attorneys have successfully freed California public school employee Keshawna Adams from SEIU 099’ unconstitutional dues deductions.
Ms. Adams is a custodian with the Lynwood Unified School District who spent two years attempting to exercise her First Amendment right to refrain from union membership and dues payments. SEIU 099 ignored her requests to leave the Union and cancel dues deductions—this is unconstitutional compelled speech. Janus v. AFSCME pronounced that government unions may not deduct payments from an employee’s lawfully earned wages unless she affirmatively consents to pay. Unions and employers cannot presume an employee’s consent and must be able to provide clear and compelling evidence that an employee authorized deductions. When a union seizes an employee’s lawfully earned wages without satisfying these requirements, it violates the First Amendment.
Ms. Adams provided clear and compelling evidence that she was not authorizing dues deductions. This took the form of the opt-out requests that she sent over the course of two years. Ms. Adams reached out to the Freedom Foundation for assistance after it became clear to her that the Union was not processing her opt-out requests.
Freedom Foundation attorneys sent a demand letter on behalf of Ms. Adams in December 2025, requesting that the Union immediately release her from union membership and dues payment obligations. The demand letter also sought monetary compensation for the wrongful deductions the Unions took her lawfully earned wages.
SEIU 099 acquiesced to the Foundation’s demand letter and sent her $3000 in compensation last month for the time it spent ignoring her opt-out requests. SEIU 099, through its counsel, committed to ensuring that it will not take unauthorized dues deductions from Ms. Adams in the future.
Government unions far too often ignore workers when they cancel their union membership and cease paying dues. It should not take demand letters from legal teams for government unions to respect employees’ First Amendment rights. But that is the reality that government employees like Keshawna Adams face daily.
The Freedom Foundation continues to play a vital role in helping public sector workers exercise their constitutional rights. Keshawna Adams has expressed that “thanks to the Freedom Foundation” she feels “liberated.” And she is thankful that the Foundation worked “diligently” to get her the compensation she deserved.
The Freedom Foundation will continue to fight employees’ fundamental right to decide for themselves whether to support a union, free from coercion and interference.
