YOUNGSTOWN Ruling favors St. E's workers

The ruling was based on a complaint filed by 10 St. Elizabeth's workers.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A National Labor Relations Board judge has ruled that 900 unionized St. Elizabeth Health Center employees have the right to seek repayment of a portion of the dues they paid as members of Teamsters Local 377.
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation said in a press release that the judge's decision was in response to unfair labor practice charges 10 St. Elizabeth's workers filed in 2001. The foundation said it provided free legal assistance to the workers.
The foundation said the judge ordered Local 377 to inform St. E's workers of their rights under a U.S. Supreme Court decision to resign from formal union membership at any time and pay fees equivalent only to the union's proven collective bargaining costs.
No comment
Bob Bernat, business agent and treasurer for Local 377, declined to comment Friday, saying he had not yet seen the judge's ruling.
In the original charges, the 10 St. E's employees alleged that the union refused to accept their resignations and failed to properly notify them of their right to withhold a portion of their dues used to subsidize union political activities.
The judge granted the case class-action status, meaning that Local 377 failed to inform all 900 workers in the bargaining unit of their rights and allow all the members to seek a partial dues refund.
The workers' complaint alleged that Local 377 leaders refused to accept their written resignations from union membership and told them they must pay back dues they owed before the union would consider their resignations.
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit group that offers free legal aid to employees who believe their human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory union activities.