King Soopers workers file new NLRB charges over alleged illegal strike fines

“Despite often-misleading language in union contracts, no employee is actually required to be a member of a union,” the notice reads. “And if an employee is not a member of a union, union officials have no power to fine or discipline him or her.”

Both Lamb and Martin say they followed proper procedures to avoid being subject to internal union discipline. The Foundation states there have been other instances where UFCW attempted to levy significant fines—sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of dollars—against workers who chose not to participate in strike actions.

“Union officials shouldn’t be telling me I can’t earn a living just so they can make a point,” said Lamb. Martin added: “We have the right to keep working and not abide by their rules, and it’s ridiculous that the union officials think they can punish us for exercising that right.”

This is not the first time UFCW Local 7 has faced such allegations. In 2022, several King Soopers employees filed similar charges after being fined despite having left the union. In two previous cases supported by Foundation attorneys, UFCW dropped its fines rather than face NLRB sanctions.

“Once again UFCW bosses are demonstrating their willingness to steamroll the legal rights of rank-and-file workers, just because those workers won’t toe the union line,” said Mark Mix, president of National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. “Kings Soopers employees have beaten back these illegal fines in the past, and while it shouldn’t take a team of attorneys to ensure workers can exercise their legal rights, we are dedicated to ensuring all King Soopers workers can freely make the choice that is best for them.”