Employees at Wells Fargo’s Seaside Park branch in New Jersey removed Communications Workers of America (CWA) union officials from their workplace, according to an April 27 announcement. The process began when bank employee Lisa Sholtis filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board seeking a decertification election to end CWA representation. Sholtis received free legal aid from the National Right to Work Legal Defense and Education Foundation.
The NLRB is responsible for administering elections regarding union certification and decertification. Sholtis’ petition included enough signatures from her coworkers for the NLRB to schedule a secret-ballot vote among full-time and regular part-time tellers and personal bankers at the branch. Before the scheduled election, CWA union officials stated they would “disclaim interest” in representing these employees, ending their role as bargaining representatives.
“After nearly two years with the CWA doing little to nothing for employees at the Seaside Park Branch, we finally have our branch back,” said Sholtis.
New Jersey does not have Right to Work protections that make union membership and dues voluntary, meaning workers could be required to pay dues or fees as a condition of employment if an agreement is reached between employer and union officials. The Seaside Park outcome follows similar efforts by Wells Fargo workers in Spring Hill, Florida; Casper, Wyoming; and Apex, North Carolina—some resulting in unions stepping down before votes could take place or being removed by majority vote.
“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,” said National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. “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 works on labor rights issues including compulsory unionism through litigation and public education according to its official website. The foundation offers free legal assistance on matters related to mandatory union fees as noted on its website.
