A legal case has been initiated by the National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation on behalf of Richard Howard, a General Electric (GE) Aviation Systems employee in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The case centers on allegations that United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 330 officials demanded Howard’s termination after he declined to join the union and refused to authorize direct paycheck deductions for full union dues.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which enforces private sector labor law, has issued a complaint against both UAW and GE Aviation, moving forward with prosecution related to these events.
Howard filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB. He alleges that GE management fired him at the request of UAW officials because he would not sign a membership and dues “checkoff” form. This form would have allowed UAW access to his wages for dues collection. Howard also claims his rights under the Supreme Court decision CWA v. Beck were violated; this ruling states that unions cannot require non-members to pay for political or ideological activities.
After Michigan repealed its Right to Work law in 2023, unions regained authority to require workers to pay dues as a condition of employment, though some limits remain due to federal law and court decisions like Beck. Federal regulations also prohibit making workers authorize automatic deduction of union dues from their paychecks.
Howard asserts that UAW officials did not inform him about his Beck rights or allow him to exercise them, even after he objected to paying dues used for political purposes. These demands reportedly occurred soon after Michigan’s Right to Work protections ended.
At the end of January, the NLRB issued a complaint seeking remedies including back pay for Howard and reimbursement of any illegally collected dues. The complaint will be considered by an NLRB Administrative Law Judge.
Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation, stated: “Mr. Howard’s case is Exhibit 1 for why workers need more – not less – protection from union boss coercion.” He added: “UAW officials apparently view Michigan’s lack of Right to Work as a license to make any demands they want of workers – including unlawful demands to fund the UAW’s radical politics. The bottom line is that Michigan workers deserve protection from being forced to subsidize unwanted union bosses, whether they oppose them for political reasons, corruption-related reasons, or any other reason. Michigan’s Right to Work law provided that protection, and the decision to repeal it was a sop to union special interests, plain and simple.”
“Workers like Rick Howard are now paying the price,” Mix said.
The National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation provides free legal aid and engages in litigation focused on protecting employees from compulsory unionism through strategic advocacy efforts (official website). The foundation also offers educational resources aimed at safeguarding worker rights against mandatory union fees (official website).
