Nadine Reyes, an employee at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles, has lodged federal charges against the Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers (SEIU-UHW). The charges stem from allegations that union officials falsely asserted that full union membership was a mandatory condition of her employment. Additionally, Reyes claims she was threatened with termination if she did not sign membership and dues deduction cards. She is receiving legal assistance from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.
The law prohibits requiring full union membership as a condition for employment, a practice known as a "closed shop" arrangement. However, employees may be asked to sign dues deduction cards authorizing the collection of union dues directly from their paychecks.
Reyes stated, "SEIU bosses attempted to take advantage of me and threatened me, assuming I didn’t know my rights or wouldn’t stand up for myself. But I knew what they were doing was wrong, and I’m standing up for myself against their bullying."