Nurse’s Three-Year Ordeal Over in Three Months

Spano Lonis v. SEIU, District 1199NE

Case Summary

  • SEIU, District 1199NE officials ignored Cheryl’s resignation for nearly three years, continuing to deduct full union dues from her paycheck during that time, blocking thousands of dollars in charitable contributions.
  • Moreover, union officials failed to provide Cheryl with notices that were, at that time, legally required by the United States Supreme Court.

Cheryl Brings Lawsuit after SEIU Ignores Resignation Attempts

Cheryl Spano Lonis challenged her union’s failure to honor her resignation and to provide her with constitutionally required notices and procedures. She resigned her union membership after reconnecting with her church and concluding that her religious beliefs precluded her membership in or financial support of the union and its activities.

The union ignored her resignation, however, for nearly three years. The State of Connecticut continued collecting full union dues from her wages during that time. It did so even though the collective bargaining agreement between her union and the State provided that religious objectors could resign union membership and donate an amount of union fees equivalent to union dues to charity. The union also never provided her with constitutionally required notices and procedures, none of which were even provided for in the collective bargaining agreement between the union and state.

SEIU Folds Within Three Months

Cheryl found the Fairness Center and filed a lawsuit. Within three months, the union backed down and agreed to settle the lawsuit by acknowledging her resignation and refunding her money–with interest–for the full three-year period.

Case Status & Documents

Spano Lonis v. SEIU, District 1199NE is closed.