AFSCME 3993 Drops Stall Tactics When Freedom Foundation Gets Involved

Hannah Cooksey
July 18, 2019

Public employees can opt out of union membership and dues payments — it’s their First Amendment right to do so.

That’s exactly what Luis Granados, a public transit employee in California, had in mind this past April when he sent a letter to AFSCME 3993 requesting it terminate his membership and dues payments.

He was clear that his cancelation was effective immediately.

The union responded by stonewalling his request and piling on added requirements that were arbitrary and unnecessary.

A few days after he sent his letter, Mr. Granados received a voicemail message from his union president, Sal Cruz, stating that the two would have to meet and complete more forms before AFSCME 3993 would process his opt-out request.

Mr. Granados was surprised. His request was clear. More questioning was unnecessary. That’s when he enlisted the help of the Freedom Foundation, whose attorneys fired off a letter to Mr. Cruz, demanding that AFSCME 3993 process his opt-out immediately and refund the money deducted since April.

AFSCME 3993 responded by complying with each of the requests.

Thanks to Freedom Foundation, Mr. Granados received a copy of his dues authorization, his dues ceased and he received a refund.

- California, Labor, Litigation
, Featured

Hannah Cooksey

Paralegal

Hannah is from the Willamette Valley in Oregon and also lived in Japan for ten years. She was homeschooled through high school and graduated in 2016 from Oak Brook College of Law in Fresno, California with a paralegal certificate. She is certified with the National Association of Legal Assistants. Prior to joining the Freedom Foundation team, Hannah interned for Life Legal Defense Foundation, served as an administrative assistant for two years, and was a private violin instructor. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys playing music with her sisters, volunteering at church, and cooking for her houseful of siblings.