Production and maintenance employees at Hydra-Lock Corp., a hydraulic tooling company in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, have voted to remove United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 155 union officials from their workplace. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) conducted the vote after employee Keith Woody submitted a petition for an election to "decertify" the union. Woody received legal assistance from National Right to Work Foundation attorneys.
The NLRB is responsible for enforcing federal labor law, including overseeing elections related to union representation. Woody's petition had signatures from a majority of his colleagues, exceeding the threshold required under NLRB rules for a decertification vote.
Following Michigan legislators' repeal of the state's Right to Work protections in February 2023, UAW officials gained the power to enforce job conditions requiring employees like Woody and his coworkers to pay dues or fees as employment conditions. In contrast, Right to Work states allow voluntary union membership and financial support.