Lufthansa Technik technicians win right for decertification vote against IAM union

According to Matos: “The union has only seen us as a dollar sign from the very first day and they know very well that having us intimidated and divided while feeding us misinformation is an open path for them to obtain that dollar.”

National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys are providing legal assistance to Matos and his coworkers during this process. In May 2025, Foundation attorneys submitted arguments stating that allegations made by IAM about employer interference had not been proven in federal court and should not be grounds for blocking the vote.

In its decision, the NMB stated: “[B]arring extraordinary circumstances, the Board does not take action on allegations of interference until the end of an election voting period.” The ruling further noted that even if interference is found after an election, remedies are limited and do not include preventing workers from voting as requested by IAM officials.

Mark Mix, President of National Right to Work Foundation, commented: “The NMB was right to reject union bosses’ attempt to prevent Mr. Matos and his colleagues from exercising their right to vote on the IAM’s presence in their workplace.” He added: “While this case has worked out in the Lufthansa technicians’ favor, this case shows the kind of legal tactics and maneuvers that union bosses will attempt to frustrate the will of the workers they claim to ‘represent,’ just so they can collect forced union dues.”

Mix also said: “The Trump Administration, which is still staffing its federal labor agencies, needs to focus on eliminating barriers to worker free choice, whether those exist in policies at the NMB or at other federal labor boards, like the National Labor Relations Board.”

Under current law governing air and rail industries—the Railway Labor Act—unions can require payment of dues or fees as a condition of employment regardless of state or territory right-to-work laws. Puerto Rico does not have right-to-work protections; therefore employees must formally remove unions through elections if they wish not to pay mandatory dues.