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Kaiser nurse files charges against UNAC over forced union dues

Kaiser nurse files charges against UNAC over forced union dues
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William L. Messenger Vice President and Legal Director (2023-Present) | NRTWLD&EF, Inc

Sarah Warthemann, a nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills, has filed federal charges against the United Nurses Association of California (UNAC) union. She claims that UNAC officials threatened her job if she did not join the union and ignored her attempt to opt out of paying for union political expenses. The charges were filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), with legal assistance from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.

The NLRB enforces federal labor law, including workers' rights under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act to refrain from union activities. Warthemann's charge is based on CWA Union v. Beck, which prohibits requiring non-members to fund union ideological activities. Additionally, General Motors v. NLRB forbids requiring formal membership as an employment condition.

In California, not a Right to Work state, UNAC can enforce contracts requiring dues payment for employment, but Beck limits this to bargaining functions only. In contrast, states like Arizona and Nevada make all union support voluntary.

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Warthemann stated: “The radical political agenda promoted by the UNAC union is something I do not—and should not—be compelled to support.” She argues that while required to pay dues, it should not include funding political activities.

Her charges also highlight that a UNAC representative insisted she fill out a membership form as a condition of employment and ignored her Beck rights request. The charges claim the union failed to provide financial breakdowns required by Beck.

This comes after another nurse at Kaiser Permanente, Jillian Clausi, reached an NLRB-approved settlement with UNAC over similar violations. Despite this settlement's declarations, Warthemann alleges similar misconduct in her case.

Mark Mix, President of the National Right to Work Foundation, commented: “It’s no surprise that UNAC union officials... are trying to keep nurses in the dark about their right to stop their money from enriching the union’s political machine.” He emphasized that workers should have the right to refuse funding such agendas and called for Right to Work protections for all American workers.

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