Folks,
After publishing my story "UAW Local Forced to Pay $315,000 to 3 Zionist Union Members", we found out more information about the manipulative lawfare tactics used by the Zionist Brandeis Center. We have updated the story extensively to explain the legal issues.
The story has about 300 more words that lay out the manipulative tactics and is a cautionary tale of what unions could face.
Please email us melk@paydayreport.com if your union is facing lawfare attacks. We must fight back against these anti-union tactics.
UAW Local Forced to Pay $315,000 to 3 Zionist Union Members
By Mike Elk
This week, UAW Local 2325, the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA), was forced to pay $315,000 to three Zionist union members over legally dubious claims that they violated their rights as union members under federal labor law during a failed attempt by some union members to expel the Zionists.
While a federal judge dismissed their claims of antisemitism, the union was forced to settle claims that it did not follow the proper federal legal process when some union members sought unsuccessfully to expel the Zionist union members. None of the careers or earnings of the Zionist union members were negatively affected by the failed attempt to expel them from the union.
The lawsuit is a troubling development for pro-Palestine activists in the labor movement. The lawfare tactics by the Brandeis Center could scare other unions from adopting the BDS strategy to force Israel to end the illegal occupation of Palestine.
The three union members claimed that their union, ALAA UAW Local 2325, was engaged in discriminatory actions against Jewish people by supporting the Boycott, Disinvestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The members cooperated with federal investigations by the House GOP into the union, angering many union members.
After the actions by the Zionist union members, some ALAA UAW Local 2325 members brought charges against the Zionist union members, seeking to expel them from the union. The union's executive board was about to vote on the charges when Zionist union members filed a lawsuit to prevent the vote.
The Brandeis Center represented the union members. They claimed that the union members were being discriminated against because they were Jewish.
As evidence of supposed antisemitic statements, the Brandeis Center pointed to messages in internal union discussion boards where the Zionist union members, who cooperated with House GOP investigators, were referred to as "snitches," "losers," "disgusting," "dictators in training," and "Zionist ghouls."
While a federal judge had dismissed previous claims of antisemitic discrimination, the ALAA UAW Local 2325 claims it was forced to settle the case due to federal labor law charges that accused the union of violating members' due process by expelling them without proper legal procedures, in violation of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA).
The union disputed the notion that they violated the LMRDA. However, as violations of the LMRDA would be undertaken by the anti-union Trump Administration's Department of Labor, there was also an additional incentive for the union to settle to avoid a far more expensive and painful investigation by the Trump Administration.
Furthermore, one of the Zionist union members could point to monetary damages that they suffered as a result of the failed expulsion attempt. Some of them were even promoted to management at the Legal Aid groups where they were employed after the failed expulsion attempt by UAW members.
They claimed emotional damages and asked that the UAW local pay their legal fees. The Brandeis Center used some of the most expensive Zionist lawyers in New York City, creating severe financial liability for the union if they were found guilty of not following the proper technical procedures for bringing a vote on expelling the union members.
Rather than risking having to pay the legal fees of the Brandeis Center's lawyers, as well as tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of dollars that the union would have spent defending itself, the local decided to settle the LMRDA procedure charges. Settling the LMRDA charges also prevented the Zionist union members from asking Trump's Department of Labor to investigate the charges.
Still, despite a federal judge finding no evidence of antisemitism, the Zionist Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law claimed that the lawsuit settlement marked a significant victory against antisemitic forces in the labor movement.
"Labor unions are supposed to be advocates for social justice and workplace equality. To find the oldest hatred in such places is deeply antithetical to their mission. This settlement is a landmark in the fight against antisemitism in this sector," said Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman of the Brandeis Center, in a statement. "I am gratified by this outcome and resolved to support Jewish workers at any union around the country that is seeing this problem arise. Based on what we are hearing around the country, there will be more of these cases coming."
Several Jewish members of the UAW local objected to the comments being considered anti-semitic.
"I believe that the Brandeis Center weaponizes Jewish identity to justify genocide in Palestine and enforce censorship in the United States. But I—and Jewish members across ALAA—reject the death, destruction, and suppression promoted by the Zionist lobby in our name," said the Jewish recording secretary of the union, Navruz Baum, in a statement. "Opposing Zionism's genocidal ideology is not antisemitic. In fact, it's a moral obligation for anyone of conscience."
Despite the settlement, ALAA UAW Local 2325 said that they would not be dissuaded from continuing to support the BDS movement against Israel.
"We have an unwavering commitment to the Palestinian people and will continue to fight any and all attempts to silence our members," said ALAA UAW Local 2325 Vice President Ella Nalepka.
