NLRB files charges in McHenry suit

A Hammond man’s suit against Twin Cities-based Teamsters Local Union 974 has resulted in federal charges.

The National Labor Relations Board regional office in Minneapolis issued a formal complaint against the union after Dylan McHenry, Hammond filed federal charges against the union through the National Right to Work Foundation.

McHenry initially filed the charges this summer, alleging Teamsters Local Union 974 had refused to follow federal disclosure requirements and had taken money from his paychecks for its political action committee. At the time, McHenry was a New Brighton, Minn. journeyman technician at Ford. McHenry had resigned from union membership in April, but as Minnesota does not have Right to Work laws, he was still required to pay certain union fees.

However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of “Foundation’s Communication Works of America vs. Beck” that workers who are not official members of unions are not required to pay dues or fees for political activities.

McHenry alleges that Teamsters officials did not provide him with a complete list of where his required dues were being spent. He also alleged that the union did use some of his dues for their political action committee.

The NLRB has now decided not to prosecute Teamsters Local 974 Union for taking money from McHenry’s paychecks for its political action committee. However, the NLRB will prosecute the union’s officials for not properly following federal disclosure requirements.

“I’m kind of disappointed that they have been pretty lenient on them up to this point for not following the law,” McHenry said. “I hope that other people don’t have to go through what I’m going through.”

McHenry said the next step for him will be attending a formal hearing in January.

“Right now it’s a waiting game,” he said.

Teamsters Local Union 974 representatives were contacted but preferred not to comment.

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