Chicago 911 operator wins legal battle over union dues deductions

Glenn M. Taubman | Staff Attorney (1982-Present) | NRTWLD&EF, Inc

By Sky Industry News

Oct 24, 2024

Patricia Whittaker, a 911 operator in Chicago, has successfully halted union dues payments to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 21. This follows her legal battle with support from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, after she was allegedly misled about her rights by union officials. Whittaker filed charges with the Illinois Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to assert her rights under the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision.

The Janus ruling asserts that public sector employees cannot be compelled to pay union dues without their consent. Despite this, Whittaker's attempts to stop deductions were obstructed by a cycle where both union officials and her employer directed her to each other, resulting in unauthorized deductions for over ten months.

Whittaker's charges indicate that IBEW Local 21 attempted to present themselves positively by reimbursing deducted dues while still collecting them. This action was perceived as an attempt to appease Whittaker while trying to retain her as a member.

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This is not an isolated incident involving IBEW Local 21. Earlier, Rhonda Younkins won a similar case against the same union with assistance from Foundation attorneys who filed charges on her behalf at PERB.

The Janus decision continues to impact public employees nationwide by empowering them to challenge unlawful dues deductions. The ruling has led many workers across the country, including around 450,000 immediately following the decision, to cease paying union dues.

Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, emphasized the importance of public employees being aware of their Janus rights: "While we are pleased to see IBEW officials back down once again, it is unacceptable that it takes aggressive legal action just to force union officials to respect workers’ constitutional rights."