In order to avoid impending federal prosecution by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), an Akron, Ohio, union backed down from its unlawful attempts to fine several Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. employees $620 each for refusing to abandon their jobs during a union-ordered strike.
The settlement, won by National Right to Work Foundation attorneys, requires United Steelworkers of America (USW) Local 2L union officials to:
* stop threatening employees who are not formal union members with internal union fines,
* discontinue holding internal union trials used to discipline such employees, and
* cease coercing and intimidating employees who choose not to walk off the job during a union-ordered strike.
The settlement also requires notices to be posted in visible areas throughout the Goodyear plant advising employees of their rights.
In addition, USW union officials must stop "using bullhorns to intimidate" and threaten retaliation against employees at their residences, according to the settlement.
According to the settlement, USW union officials are required to withdraw the illegal strike fines levied against Goodyear employees as well as expunge all internal union disciplinary records on file.
Foundation attorneys originally helped Frank C. Steen III file federal charges after union officials targeted him with illegal retaliatory strike fines, threats, hate mail, and other recriminations. Having issued a formal complaint in June 2007, the NLRB had scheduled a trial for August 21.
