Union faces federal worker’s suit over seized dues
[February 19, 2026]
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – National Right to Work Foundation Vice President
Patrick Semmens is calling out AFSCME Council 31 union leaders over what
he sees as the organization’s underhanded way of doing business after a
federal worker recently filed suit, alleging she was forced to join the
union and pay dues that cover the organization’s political activities.
Represented by NRWF attorneys, J. Denise Bradley, a mental health
professional with University Correctional Healthcare Solutions, recently
took action at the National Labor Relations Board. Semmens adds Bradley
is primarily staffed at the Illinois Youth Center Pere Marquette in
Grafton.
“This is a case where the union is illegally, unlawfully and pretty
clearly violating the rights of someone who they claim to represent,”
Semmens told The Center Square. “I think union bosses really, especially
when they have force dues powers, feel like they don't actually work for
their members. Basically, their business model when it comes to force
dues is legalized extortion. This is a, it's a big problem and it's
especially a problem in states like Illinois that don't have right to
work laws.
Semmens stresses this isn’t NRWF’s first issue with AFSCME Council
31leaders.
“We actually beat them at the U.S. Supreme Court in the Janice v. AFSCME
2018 case, and that case meant that every public employee in the country
has a right to work protections,” he said. “Unfortunately, Denise is a
private sector employee and so she does not have that full ability to
cut off dues, but she's still facing unlawful threats. A large
percentage of our over 200 cases that we handle each year involve
various tactics that union bosses use to attempt to get money from
people in ways that they're not legally allowed to.”
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While Illinois’ non-Right to Work status allows unions to enforce
contracts that require workers to pay money to the union or be
fired, the Supreme Court’s decision in NLRB v. General Motors
outlaws mandatory membership. Additionally, the CWA v. Beck high
court verdict bans unions from requiring workers who opt out of
membership to pay dues for “nonchargeable” expenses.
Not long ago, Bradley sought to exercise her right to say no but was
rebuffed by union officials. Semmens argues the way union leaders
continue to operate says a lot about the modern-day appeal of such
organizations.
“Instead of following the law and trying to maybe convince her why
we think you should voluntarily support our organization, they turn
to threats and illegal threats and fundamentally she just wants that
to stop,” he said. “She wants her rights to be respected and she
deserves that because these are long standing precedents that the
union is violating.”
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