Employees at Wells Fargo’s Seaside Park branch in New Jersey have removed the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union from their workplace, according to an April 27 announcement. The process began when Lisa Sholtis, a bank employee, filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking a decertification election to end CWA representation at the branch. Sholtis received free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation.
The NLRB is responsible for overseeing federal labor law and managing elections that allow workers to install or remove unions as their representatives. After enough employees supported Sholtis’ petition, the NLRB scheduled a secret-ballot vote among full-time and regular part-time tellers and personal bankers at the Seaside Park location. Before the vote took place, however, CWA officials announced they would “disclaim interest” in representing these workers.
Sholtis said: “After nearly two years with the CWA doing little to nothing for employees at the Seaside Park Branch, we finally have our branch back.”
New Jersey does not have Right to Work protections that make union membership and dues voluntary. This means that employees could be required to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment if their employer signs an agreement with a union.
This development follows similar efforts by Wells Fargo employees elsewhere in the country who are also seeking to remove CWA representation. According to recent reports, Foundation-assisted petitions were filed last month by Wells Fargo workers in Spring Hill, Florida; Casper, Wyoming; and Apex, North Carolina. In some cases—such as Spring Hill—CWA officials also withdrew before facing a decertification vote. In other locations like Casper, attempts are being made by union officials to prevent such votes from occurring.
Mark Mix, President of National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation said: “We are pleased to be able to support Ms. Sholtis and her coworkers as they exercise their legal right to remove unwanted CWA union bosses.” Mix added: “As the movement by Wells Fargo employees to eject the CWA spreads, the Foundation is ready to assist them in exercising their rights under federal law to hold votes to remove the unwanted union.”
The National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation provides free legal aid aimed at protecting workers against compulsory unionism through litigation and public education according to its official website. The organization advances worker freedom through strategic litigation on issues related to mandatory unions according its official website. It delivers free legal help and educational resources designed specifically for safeguarding employee rights against forced payment of union fees as noted on its official website. The foundation focuses on labor rights advocacy within this context according its official website.
