The labor union representing employees of Disney Parks and Resorts in Orlando has been slapped with federal charges for illegally seizing dues from workers’ paychecks.
Jose Alejandro Class Robles, a Disney Parks and Resorts employee in Orlando, Florida has filed federal charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against UNITE HERE Local 362 for illegally deducting dues from his paycheck, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation reports.
The Foundation, which is representing Class for free, filed unfair labor practice charges against “UNITE HERE” Local 362 with the NLRB Region 12 office.
“Since 1943, Florida’s Right to Work protections make union membership and financial support strictly voluntary. However, rather than respect workers’ ability to decide individually whether or not to voluntarily financially support the union, UNITE HERE union officials are blocking Class from exercising his rights under the law and stonewalling his request for required information regarding the dues deductions,” the Foundation reports.
In December 2022 Class submitted a letter to the union resigning his membership and revoking the union’s authorization to deduct dues from his paycheck.
“That December letter also requested that, if union officials did not immediately accept his dues checkoff revocation, that the union provides him with a copy of any checkoff he may have signed within 14 days of receipt,” the Foundation reports.
The union ignored his request. They have not stopped collecting dues from his wages and refuse to provide him with his requested copy of a signed checkoff authorization, which might specify when revocation is allowed.
The union’s action are unlawful. Florida is a Right to Work state, and Class cannot legally be forced to pay union dues to get or keep a job.
“In an all too common situation, union officials are blatantly ignoring a worker’s right to end financial support to a union just so they can fill their coffers by seizing union dues from unwilling employees,” said National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. “Workers everywhere, especially in Right to Work states, should know they can turn to the National Right to Work Foundation for free legal aid to help enforce their rights.”
