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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indianapolis operations of a Canadian paper company and a Teamsters-affiliated local union violated Indiana’s right-to-work law, according to allegations of six men who want out of the union.
The men filed an unfair labor practice charge May 6 against Montreal-based Domtar Paper Co. and the Graphic Communications International Union, Local 17M.
The National Right to Work Foundation helped the workers file the charge with the National Labor Relations Board in Indianapolis. Under the Indiana law, workers can opt out of paying union dues before new contracts take effect, or as current contracts expire.
The workers revoked their membership authorization in February and the union’s contract with Domtar expired March 15, National Right to Work Foundation spokesman Anthony Riedel said.
“The collection of dues should have stopped then,” Riedel said.
Domtar was named in the May 6 charge because the company collects the dues, while the local union accepts the money. The six workers are Broatus Lambert, Lawrence Langworth, Christopher McKay, Kenneth Rosenfeld, Kevin Schrader and William Schwier.
A Domtar representative couldn't be reached for comment Thursday morning. A Teamsters spokesman in Washington, D.C., said he did not have information about the case and could not immediately get in touch with the local affiliate.
Domtar employs more than 10,000 workers in North America. Its location at 6461 Saguaro Court in Indianapolis converts paper into business forms and other standard sizes.
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