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Chicago Union News » Ex-Union Member Fights Hefty Carpenters Fine


(POSTED: 7/25/11) Union members better think twice before working for a non-union company — it could cost them.

The Chicago Regional Council of Carpentersimposed a $300,900 fine on a former union member who crossed a picket line and went to work for a non-signatory contractor while he was still part of the union, court documents show.

The individual, Nathaniel Musser, who was a member of Waukegan-based Local 250, has filed charges of unfair labor practices against the union with the National Labor Relations Board. A hearing is set for mid-August.

Musser, described as a young man, could not find employment through the union, said his lawyer, Stanley Niew. He eventually found a job through a non-union company that has since gone out of business and performed work on various dates in April and May of 2009.

Once the union learned of Musser’s employment, Local 250 filed internal charges against him in June of 2009 and the Regional Council imposed the fine in June 2010.

Musser appealed the fine, which was then reduced to $200,850.

According to court documents, Musser alleges that the Carpenters Union has maintained a policy that precluded members from resigning from the union.

“If he would have known about a way to resign, he would have resigned before he worked for a non-union employer,” Niew said.

Joe Heilgeist, identified in court papers as a business representative and organizer of Local 250, declined to comment and the attorney representing the union did not return phone calls.

Frank Libby, president of the Regional Council, said he was unfamiliar with this particular case but said the situation was common.

“It makes sense,” Libby said. “He went to work with a non-union contractor while he held membership. You can’t do that. . . . He made a conscious decision apparently to say the hell with the union.”

By Katie Drews, for ChicagoUnionNews.com
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