GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS/NO NEWS

There is Good News, Bad News, and No News from the Union.

The GOOD NEWS is this:

For employees who wish to “non-associate” from the union based on religious belief, the WFSE has “pre-approved” several charities that they may divert the equivalent of Union dues to instead of the Union Scholarship Fund:

q American Heart Association

q American Cancer Society

q Children’s Hospital Foundation

q Second Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest

q Thurston County Food Bank

This is in keeping with the provision of WAC 391-95-30 which says:

WAC 391-95-030   Assertion of right of nonassociation.  An employee who claims a right of nonassociation based on bona fide religious tenets or teachings of a church or religious body of which such employee is a member shall provide written notice of that claim to the exclusive bargaining representative, and shall, at the same time, provide the exclusive bargaining representative with the name(s) and address(es) of one or more nonreligious charitable organizations to which the employee is prepared to make alternative payments in lieu of the payments required by the union security provision

The BAD NEWS is this:

The form that the Union supplies for you to fill you still says that in order to qualify for non-association, the religious organization to which you belong REQUIRES you to not join to the union:

“whose bona fide religious tenets or teachings require that I refrain from belonging to a union and, therefore, I wish to exercise the right of nonassociation. I understand that as a condition of employment I am required to have deducted from my payroll check an amount equivalent to regular monthly dues”

(emphasis added)

The WAC doesn’t say “REQUIRE”, it only says “BASED ON” (i.e., consistent with – in concert with – supported by)

Furthermore, the WFSE has approved non-association where the employee was not a member of any religious body but articulated sincerely held religious based objections to union support or membership.

The Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not “require” membership. The Washington state law prohibiting discrimination in employment uses the word “creed” in causes for non-discrimination employment protection.

The WAC also doesn’t say that the payment to the charity must be made by payroll deduction or be channeled through the Union to the charity.

The NO NEWS is this:

The WFSE sent information to employees originally giving them ONE CHOICE for diversion of funds: The UNION scholarship fund.

Have they sent you notice of the additional “pre-approved” choices????

Does the Union have a vested interest in having you pay funds to them (either 1.37% for union dues/agency fee or 1.13% for a “representation fee”) rather than to a charity?

Complete copy of the Union Form: FORM

Link to you obligation/choices overview: OBLIGATION

An Independent Guide on this issue: GUIDE

The information on these web pages is intended for informational and educational purposes only. You are encouraged to research these issues for yourself and come to your own conclusions. It is not legal advice. You should consult with legal counsel about your specific situation. The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation may be of assistance at www.nrtw.org