|
Teachers Union Discriminates Against and Refuses to
Accommodate Employee
San Luis Obispo, CA - Despite making repeated requests, a full-time
instructor at a local college has been denied the right to divert his
mandatory "fair share" union fees to a charity that does not conflict with
his religious convictions. The choice of charities to which the union has restricted this instructor
are the ACLU, Planned Parenthood,
the Gay and Lesbian Alliance, and a local scholarship fund that is
clearly geared toward furthering labor union interests.
Acting on behalf of the instructor, the Pacific Justice Institute made
several written formal demands to the union that it either provide a list of
acceptable charities, or allow the instructor to independently select his
own desired charities. A demand was also made that the religious objecting
employees not be charged a higher service fee than political objecting
employees. Because the union has continually refused to comply, the Pacific
Justice Institute decided to file a lawsuit. Affiliate attorney Richard
Kahdeman will be acting as lead counsel for this case.
BACK TO HOME
|
|
"Under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the unions
not only have a legal obligation to refrain from discriminating of the basis
of religion, they must reasonably accommodate the religious practices and
beliefs of the employees they purportedly represent," said Brad Dacus,
President of the Pacific Justice Institute. "Compliance with Title VII does
not end with the union grudgingly agreeing to divert a religious objector's
fees to charity. The whole purpose of accommodation would be defeated if an
employee could be made to support an organization or fund that profoundly
offends his religious convictions."
The Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense
organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental
rights, and other civil liberties.
P.O. Box 4366, Citrus Heights, CA 95611
Phone (916) 857-6900 Fax (916) 857-6902 www.pacificjustice.org
|
