After a year of battling, the Cuesta College Federation of Teachers finally agreed to allow one of its professors to have all of his union dues diverted to a charity of his choice.
Despite making repeated requests, Professor Paul Bauer had previously been denied the right to divert his mandatory “fair share” union fees to a charity that did not conflict with his religious convictions. The choice of charities to which the union had restricted this instructor include two groups that advocate abortion: Planned Parenthood and the ACLU.
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. In order to prevent a lawsuit against them, the union finally capitulated.
“I am relieved this is finally over,” said Professor Bauer. “I did not want to go to trial, but would have if it had been necessary. I am extremely grateful to Pacific Justice Institute and their Affiliate Attorney Richard Kahdeman for their valuable representation.”
By law, unions cannot discriminate against those who prefer their union dues not go to organizations that violate their religious beliefs, including opposition to abortion.
“Under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the unions not only have a legal obligation to refrain from discriminating on 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.”
(This article courtesy of Steven Ertelt and the Pro-Life Infonet email newsletter. For more information or to subscribe go to www.prolifeinfo.org or email infonet@prolifeinfo.org.)