A northern Ohio veterans’ home employee who claims he was forced to join a union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association.
Ryan Smith, a Marine veteran, stated that on his first day of work at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky in April, he was required to sign and submit a union membership agreement.
He asked for it back but was told no, Smith said, which led to the charges being filed with the assistance of The Buckeye Institute.
“Few would contest that workers are both legally and morally entitled to make a free, uncoerced, and informed choice as to whether to join a union,” said David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute. “But coercion is just what the union employed when it had Mr. Smith sign and turn in a union membership agreement before providing any information about the union, and then refused to return the agreement at the end of the orientation.”
Smith requested the application back after AFSCME/OCSEA Chapter President Tim Federkiel made political remarks during a presentation. Smith also stated that he told Federkiel he did not want to join the union.
According to the filing, Federkiel aggressively told Smith no, and it was too late to return it because he had the paperwork.
The filing comes after The Buckeye Institute issued a demand letter on May 15 that received no response from state union leaders. That letter also asked leadership to look into Federkiel’s actions during orientation.
The letter also demanded that OSCEA terminate an agreement between Smith and the union, which included a membership application and dues deductions.
