SEIU is charging non-union nurses for political and non-bargaining activities

Caleb Jon Vandenbos
June 14, 2018

Attorneys with the Freedom Foundation and the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation jointly filed complaints on behalf of two private sector, non-union nurses who are forced to pay dues to SEIU 1199NW.

The National Labor Relations Act permits, but does not require, such forced dues. Not only does SEIU 1199NW force employees to pay these dues, but the way the union has implemented it violates legal protections for nonmembers. The Act does not allow unions to force nonmembers to pay for political or otherwise non-bargaining related activities. It also prohibits unions from throwing up unreasonable barriers to safeguarding nonmembers’ right to be free from paying for political activities.

SEIU 1199NW has been charging its nonmembers for organizing activities outside the scope of bargaining, and has implemented a program where nonmembers are locked into paying full dues if they fail to annually register their objections—in other words, they become full dues paying nonmembers without their consent!

Because this is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act, the charges were filed with the National Labor Relations Board. Now, the Board will investigate the charges to determine how the complaint will proceed.

- Litigation, Washington

Caleb Jon Vandenbos

Of Counsel

Caleb Jon comes to the Freedom Foundation with a background doing Criminal legal work and a strong interest in curbing State overreaching and expansion. He particularly enjoys legal research, writing, and argument, and is pleased to apply himself to the Constitutional issues that frequently present themselves in his work at the Freedom Foundation. Caleb Jon graduated with his BA from the University of Washington, Tacoma Campus, and his JD from the University of Washington as well. When not working, he enjoys walking, hiking with his three children, reading, and learning how to bear hunt.