Human resources representative’s failure to process worker’s request to refrain from union dues payments forces him to pay union dues for another year
Hampden, ME (July 24, 2013) – A local United States Postal Service (USPS) worker has filed a federal charge against the agency for failing to timely process his request to refrain from union membership and dues payments, thus forcing him to pay union dues for another year.
Brett Johnson of Holden, Maine, filed the charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Monday with free legal assistance from National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys.
On April 30, 2003, Johnson joined the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) union and signed a dues deduction authorization form. Dues deduction authorizations are used by union officials to automatically withhold dues from employee paychecks.
On April 10, 2013, Johnson sent a letter to the NALC union resigning his membership and refraining from union dues payments. Johnson hand-delivered the same letter to his postal service human resources representative the following day.
Postal workers have the right to refrain from union membership and union dues payments. However, according to the union’s monopoly bargaining agreement, Johnson has only a ten day period starting on April 10 each year when he can revoke his union dues deduction authorization.
Despite his requests, the human resources representative failed to forward his letter to the proper human resources department officials for processing until June 10, 2013. As a result, the USPS continues to deduct union dues from Johnson’s paychecks, and he cannot ask again to stop dues payments until next year.
“Despite this worker going above and beyond what he needs to do to refrain from paying union dues, those dues will continue to be taken from his paychecks,” said Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation. “This case displays how union officials have the power to make it difficult for workers to exercise their right to refrain from paying union dues, even in situations where workers have Right to Work protections.”
Johnson’s charge seeks to stop the confiscation of union dues from his paychecks and a refund of all union dues illegally seized from his paychecks.
I got out of the union when they stole my back pay.Shopstewards stole jobs from the senior employees using the word super seniority. Retaliation started I was set up by the union along with certain managers to be fired. I was in the union. Then I had to say good-bye. I don’t want anything from them except honesty. I believe in the union just not this union.
Yes, quit or not join the union… Good worker will get along with management wich is much better support than union. Union is only for loosers anyway.
Anyone in an APWU craft should get out if Guffey and his band of fools are able to rig the vote and declare themselves re-elected.That is the worst CBA I have ever seen! full time=30 hours a week, two-tier pay scale, give away COLA’s and pay raises for two years.Don’t blame the other postal unions,support them! they did the right thing in going to arbitration rather than let management dictate the terms of their contracts.
I quit the NALC after my local Vice-Pres responded to my complaints of mandated O/T. When he said that the NALC could not enforce the contract, (IE make them quit mandating O/T). They could only get me money after the fact. The local Pres confirmed that. That fact and given that 4 of 6 contracts were not negotiated but went to Arbitration. Forced me to ask why I should continue as a member. The NALC is not empowered with the threat of strike. So I was told to work the O/T or quit. Some union.
It`s amazing how people think that unions pay your salary. How did big union detroit work out ?
Unions are for human trash that don`t want to work or come to work. Union turds have made a career out of sitting in a office drinking coffee at the expense of the members and the post office.
Once upon a time, there was a local union that trumped up charges on its leader for political reasons; spent upwards of 15,000 dollars of dues paying members money and when all was said and done, nothing resulted from this pursuit. No one cared; no one knew; the local union’s coffers were depleted by the paying back of political favors to drug addicted union officers; no one knew; no one remembered – no one cared.
Screw apwu and your “watershed” agreement. Again, ASK YOUR LOCAL UNION ABOUT SUPERSENIORITY AND WHY JUNIOR STEWARDS CAN BUMP SENIOR MILITARY VETS WHO ARE GETTING EXCESSED. ASK WHY AN ORGANIZATION FOUNDED ON PRINCIPLES OF SENIORITY ALLOWS THIS SELF-PRESERVATION CLAUSE. AFTER YOU ASK THAT AT YOUR MEETING THAT YOU NEVER GO TO, ASK ABOUT APWU OFFICER ONLY RETIREMENT FUNDS…ASK IF YOUR DUES MONEY PAID FOR THAT AND WHY YOU CAN’T USE IT.
Believe I will be taking advantage of the 10 day rule in ,,,next march,,,,, even though I know it should be Oct. Im a ptf… otherwise known as nothing…even though I am a career employee.. vet…. 30 yrs of govt service.. Im down to 14 hours a week. while pse’s are getting 25 to 30,,
Union said there is nothing they can do about it. Sad and sorry if you ask me..very sad and sorry.
I wonder how many of you would still have a job without the layoff protection? The word excess would be useless because all of the excess employees would be fired. I am not happy with my local representation but sometimes you have to look at the big picture. I bet all the non union members have never return their pay raise or cola increase or money receive from a grievance settlement.
Way to go! Why pay dues to keep some officers fat and happy. They don’t care about anything or anyone but themselves! They are worried now as jibs disappear so do the dues. Now where will they get the money? Simple — raise the dues on the idiots that are still there.
This person has the right to opt out of union membership! At least, he is not a “BLIND FOLLOWER” like most union members!!! This present contract is the worst I have ever seen. All PSE’s should not even join this union for being considered as second class union members!!
For this person “http://www.postal-reporter.com/blog/maine-postal-worker-files-nlrb-charge-against-usps-for-failure-to-cancel-union-dues/
I hope that he/she can represent him/her-self in a NATIONAL contract.. But I’m sure if something goes wrong with that career, that SAME person will be looking for UNION (be it NALC or APWU) HELP.. These people do not realize the P.O. is after anybody and all for screw ups..In another 2 yrs, there will be NO MORE REGULARS in the P.O.. Everybody will be Part Time FLEXES… Do everything at anytime on any day.. It’s just a very SAD situation we Postal Workers are involved in…
My Man is just another leech on a system that paid me a great salary for what I did and now that I am retired I say to him. Get Out and Stay Out earn your own benefits but I am sure no one wants to pay an old fart much these days. By the way I figure you will be another of those people that will be still working at 70 and still bitching. Maybe you will try and file a greivance when they do not call you for overtime and you are on the list. Why of course, you earned that bene… To all you UNION members, THANKS as the retirement checks keep rollin on and I was PROUD to be a USPS UNION Man… Retired Coastie and USPS.
I once called the local NLRB office. I spoke with the information officer. He said such agreements to withhold union dues are not enforceable. i.e. you can resign anytime you want. Locally, I have found the union stewarts are only good at representing themselves and their buddies. Everyone else gets paid lip service.
Earn the respect of management? Who wants anything from those lazy, incompetent scumbags. Talk about thieves!
Can’t even fill out the proper form to quit the Union. Sounds like he ain’t too bright. What a loser.
Markinfla is spot on. It really isn’t that hard to get out of the Union.
GSBLTD, I think you should get your facts right before attacking. I am a proud NALC member. I have been for 30 years and will continue to be one after I retire.
A little background. I worked in the private sector for 12 years before taking a job as a letter carrier. I was a warehouse manager for one of the largest chains on the east coast. I worked my way up from sweeping the floor to that position. I took this job because of the benefits and the security it provided my family. If not for the union, these benefits would be non-existant. The NALC has stood up for it’s members rights and has tried to ptotect the benefits it negotiated for its members over the years. They have done a fantastic job in this endevour in the face of constant attacks by the right wing. We have been far more successful in representing the membership tahn not. You can not win every battle, but we try.
As for you, it is obvious that you are a bitter old man who has lost his job in the private sector. Your tone and language seem to be right in line with the current managerial staffing in the USPS. You think you are smarter and better than those around you and that you could personally solve all of the problems in the USPS. Good for you. The time is near for you to fill out a 991 and become one of those wonderful managers. I am sure that you are well liked by all of your co-workers and they look forward to taking orders from you.
I must also point out that I previously stated that if you want out, good luck. Once you are out, I believe that you have no right to complain about anything since you found it easier to bail out instead of pitching in.
I hope Johnson wins his case. Some of you idiots are calling this guy a thief. I got out of this BS union years ago, and I am so glad that I did. The apwu is full of thieves. In my office, the President, treasurer, and lead steward were all proven to be scumbag thieves. Morons, trying to intimidate people into joining. I spit on your faces… pussies.
GSBLTD
You have too much free time
if you’re not getting adequate union representation instead of whining, why not participate and take an active role. If you think its easy to be good steward you have no idea.
During my career the union prevailed in 3 grievances which I was involved and recovered over $40,000 for myself and others. I don’t think I coild have been made whole without the APWU.
enufisenuf needs to add “socialist” in front of scab and then I will listen to him chant alll daaaay lonnnng…
What a Pussy if we did not have unions we would be making 10 bucks an hour with no benny’s ya our unions seem to suck but it’s all we have and my union is saving time and money they will attack when the time is right. Plus there will be no POSTAL REFORM mark my words congress is joke and ISSA THE BIGGEST ASSHOLE OF THEM ALL.
I dont normally comment on these pages but I have to in this circumstance. This idiot claims he gave a letter to the human resources and it didnt get forwarded, etc. This shows how stupid he is. There is a FORM that is required to be filled out and it is up to YOU to fill it out and furnish copies to the union and HR main. ITS YOUR FAULT if you improperly and negligently didnt fill out the required paperwork. In addition, it all must be done with certified mail. Its not really a big deal. It seems to me that this idiot purposely and deliberately failed to do it right just so he could make this much bigger and attract the headlines. People read into what this idiot is doing!!!
GSBLTD is an ET. He is also a tea partier. When he got fired he joined the Union, when he got his job back he quit the Union again.
This SLUG obviously has an ax to grind. Let this free-loader negotiate his own pay and benefits. Another BUM sitting in the boat on his duff instead of helping to paddle. What a loser.
Mr. Johnson gets to pay for his benefits…how novel…I really wish there was a scab contract..if I stop paying my car insurance, the rest don’t pay for me…I lose my coverage…that’s how you should look at the dues. You may not always agree with the Union, but management will NEVER agree to pay you better or give you the same benefits you have now WITHOUT the Union. Buh bye scab…
GSBLTD, if its so bad why not quit and you will not have to deal with it, or were you a failure in private sector?
I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…
Let this be the start of something beautiful on the workroom floor. It’s only the minority troublemaker employee that needs to pay dues to these thug union bums! Screw them all! 1188’s for everybody!
I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…If this is all I have to put up with when I quit, then I say I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab…I’m a scab that brings home more money cause I donts belong to your damn union!
Give yourself that raise today and do the same thing this employee did. BRAVO! Quit the damn union. They’re in it for themselves. Self-preservation of their cushy lifestyles at the PO. Private parking…stay off the workroom floor in their private offices…USPS prohibited from bumping or excessing union stewards…superseniority protection over senior employees including military veterans…guaranteed time off to attend their “conventions” no matter how full the vacation board is…sweetheart deals with the boss…private union officer only retirement funds paid for by your dues money but not accessible to you and on and on! File that 1188 today! That’s right…call me a scab…what of it?
That’s all unions want is money
Save ur money why give it to other people who dont care about you.
no point being in a union if congress is going to do want they want to benefit themselves not the little guy.
If u do ur job right and dont steal hrs on the clock .. you dont need a union. I rather give that money to the church cause at the end of it all. Only God can save you and protect you from evil!
Is this person stupid or what? Its the unions fault the usps did not process paperwork?? The union has the power to make management not process paperwork? WOW that sounds dumb. This is the mentality of certain people, unions are bad no matter what, the union did it, they are bad. When in fact it is companies like walmart and others who make sure people do not earn a decent living. The union and its members ensure human beings get a decent wage and benefits, alas, the nlrb is weak, companies should all bargain with the unions or the individual. But good luck with that individual negotiating, because there’s power in numbers. or does any one out there think the usps would be matching tsp or paying annual leave or paying for part of healthcare if it wasn’t a negotiated benefit? No, we’d be making a little above minimum wage, maybe a weeks paid vacation and maybe sick leave, we’d be considered the working poor, which is exactly what some people in America want. They want us to go backwards and have no unions so the rich can keep getting rich while the rest of us are held down, the life choked out of us.
Human Resources failed to process the request not the unions fault. I agreed that the ten day window makes it difficult to opt out the union.
GSBLTD. It is unfortunate that you do not have all the facts regarding the unions efforts to save the USPS. If you think that the union is at fault, you are not too educated on this issue. If you think that cutting service will get us out of the hole Congress put us in, you are wrong. The NALC has been front and center in leading the charge for constructive reform. Unfortunately Mr. Issa and the other tea party idiots have another agenda. They would sweep us out the door to privatization in a minute. All to steal the billions sitting in our pre-funded account for people who may be hired, but have not yet born. The only thing that we offer is a service. You do not grow your business by cutting your service. This situation is not of our making. nor is it the making of the USPS. This financial crunch is placed solely on the back of Congress. It is a manufactured crisis that has taken on a life of its own. so before you try to take down the unions, educate yourself on the facts. Try going to NALC.Com to get real information. We at least are trying to save the service. What are you doing? Nothing I am sure. I am a 30 year proud member of the NALC and support their efforts to push back the right wing in an effort to get the service back on solid ground. I make my calls to my Congressman and Senators. I write letters and I do informational picketing when necessary. I try to educate my fellow members on the current issues. Again I ask, What do you do except complain and run? Typical frontrunner and crybaby. shit or get off the pot! You want out, get out, but never complain about what is going on around you. it is easy to complain, isn’t it, when you don’t get involved. And the next time you have trouble, call a friend, if you have one. and the issue of negotiating your own contract, have fun. I am sure you will do better than the unions have over the past 40 years.
You think you are bright, but I do not think you are. This is ot a private sector job. It is a Federal job under Civil Serve law. What works at times in the private sector, does not work in our place.
Laughing at this anti-labor group’s press release. Who are they suing USPS or NALC?
I’m a member but I understand the scab. Our local yocal reps are a “buddy only system” of stewards. They are to closely knitted in the fabric of management, many getting special favors, days off, prime times. No harassments for calling in, etc. You name it. There is also the scam of using excessive union dues on trips supposedly all in the name of union business….but very few grievants have went past step 2 before citations issued. I called National and told them I would support National and pay dues, but didn’t want local to get portion because of the obvious…no help from them. I honestly would like to stop supporting the locals parties, but will give to national..There is also the situation where locals have turned management against employees so as to solicit grievance, and/or employee would be forever indebted to union and put on the management “Black list’ of employees to go after. It is known management has “a list” of people to target. This doesn’t mean the people are bad workers, call in a lot, etc, these are the folks who stand up for themselves so management harrasses even more. These are people with grit that management cannot intimidate, but they try with unions help. What a way to work huh? I wish I could post the local here, but will not.
At the San Bernardino P&DC the union reps get to stay in the office half the night in a trade off to look the other way on voilations occuring on the floor every day. Clerk 204bs still on the floor, clerks working alone in automation, supervisors working.
Wake up Union or you will lose more members. We are tired of the abuse on the floor while you hide from it all.
Mr. Mac: I’ve been in business for nearly 45 years – 25 in the private sector [fending completely for myself – without unions] and now nearly 20 with the USPS. And there is one thing I have learned that is universal… No one can earn respect [including their own!] by allowing others to fight his/her battles. The union is very prompt to claim how much they do for their members – by stonewalling contact negotiations that allegedly hold Mgt accountable for infractions; while still costing the USPS tens of thousands every day by honoring greivances which reward the genuine “leeches” – those who sit at home and get paid for work they did not do. Currently, the APWU and other postal unions have banded together to fight any contructive Congressional reformation of the USPS -change that must at the same time be radical, swift and beneficial- with the end result a situation where once again NOTHING is being accomplished to save the post office as we once knew it. And yet: they are somehow
watching out for our best interests?
I firmly believe that any non-union member should be free to negotiate their own private contracts/benefits with management – I did so successfully for the first 1/4-century of my business life and am quite capable of doing so again. What I will NOT do is to blindly support a union that is as broken as the USPS. It’s a lose/lose situation and another thing I learned from the private sector decades ago is that when you find yourself stuck in a rut you don’t just sit there spinning your wheels as we are now… you open the trunk, get out a shovel and dig yourself out. Trouble is: the trunks of both the USPS and the APWU have no such shovels… even their spare tires are flat. And so we continue to sit there spinning our wheels, spraying rock, dirt and filth all over the honorable landscape the USPS once hosted. That landscape is dry, brown and barren now and the average clerk/mail handler is paying a heavy price in elevated incidents of personality disorders…. which is also why a majority of our workers [including management!] are walking around like Zombies, medicated to the maximum.
You suggest I “run for office” to effect greater change. I value my sanity far more than that – for I also understand the futility of one lone voice in a cacaphony of chaos! ‘Nuff said.
No comment. Just enjoy the free ride scab
Now management can turn this scab into a CCA.
Just curious GSBLTD, instead of complaining and running away, why don’t you run for office and try to make a positive change. Cowards run and depend on others to fight the fight. if you are as good as you think you are, maybe you can make a difference for your co-workers on the workroom floor. A scab has no standing in any of the POstal unions!
Those that refuse to pay union dues are nothing more than common thieves !!Strealing from their own co-workers. This guy should be ashamed of himself ! These scabs have no idea they’re shooting themselves in the foot !!
Another freeloader on the horizon. interesting how he uses the Ricght to Work (for less) organization to assist him. This is just another right wing organization that is a front for big business in their attempts at suppressing workers rights. without a union on this job, you would all be part time Walmart workers. do you think that management just decided to grant you your health care? How about your annual leave? Sick leave? Retirement? While Mr. Johnson may have an issue with the union at some personal level, without it he would be having a personal issue with the unemployment line. God Bless this union and all that they stand for.
Mr. Johnson has my full support! The APWU [of which I am a member] is diabolical in precventing their constituency from resigning – they deliberately make it difficult by giving you a ten-day windowe of opportunity to resign, then require you to send a Certfied letter to do so. INCIDENTALLY: when I became an APWU member [for the 2nd time] NONE of this was disclosed to me – they didn’t even tell me what my dues would be… NOTHING. And yet: they are more trhan willing to suck up my money every two weeks under the guise of “protecting” me – NONSENSE! In the several skirmishes I’ve had with USPS management, then APWU COULDN’T help me – their excuse always being “contactual restrictions.” Instead, I managed on my own and not only got what I wanted – but also have gained the respect of postal mgmnt by standing on my OWN feet and not hiding behind a flimsy worthless piece of paper that I disagreed with in the first place. The APWU’s excuse for this sorry excuse of a contract? “it’s the VERY BEST we could do for our rank/file.” To which I strongly reply: then your “best” is NOT good enough. I fully intend to resign [once again] during my ten-day period. Hopefully, this time I can do so by sending only one Certified letter… instead of the TWO it took me ten years ago when I tried this process before. I hope it… and, I DOUBT it!
Recognize Collusion / Terrorism in the American Holocaust. Lie, delay and deny until you die co-intelpro tactics. Evidence and proof provide to proper law enforcement agencies and officials in USSC 99-565 & supplement and OSC MA 93 1872.
Mr. Johnson should have also requested to not participate in any salary increases negotiated by his union including cost of living adjustments. Also he should no longer be included in the no layoff clause. The Union must represent this leach no matter what at the cost of paying members. This guy lives in a dream world if he thinks management wont try and remove him and the union will fight with all they have and protect him, especially after filling this federal charge. Should he win … good luck I give him a year at best to survive.Let him negotiate his own pay scale LOL.