Not required to join a union

To the editor:

I was shocked when told by union officials that if I wanted to keep my job, I would have to join the union. Not believing that I could be compelled to join an organization against my will, I began investigating. Here are the real facts about unions.

I contacted the National Right to Work Foundation. I found that I did not have to join the union, even though Missouri is not a right-to-work state. Employees have the legal right to not be a member of a union, although they still may have to pay an agency fee equal to what the union can prove is their share of costs for collective bargaining. Or, if someone has religious objections to the unions agenda, he can have his dues sent to a charitable organization instead of the union.

The union does not want you to know this. In fact, it will not tell you that full union membership is not lawfully required. For years, union officials told my co-workers and me that if we wanted to keep our jobs we had to join the union and pay full union dues.

If you also agree that you should not have to pay union dues, I urge you to contact the National Right to Work Foundation to learn your rights and keep your hard-earned money. Their toll-free number is 1-800 -336-3600.

FIGAN LUND, Cape Girardeau