Posts tagged UFCW Local 481
Liberty Justice Center Secures Victory for Puerto Rico Worker Over Unauthorized Union Dues
November 2, 2026 // The Liberty Justice Center (LJC) has secured a victory for public employees’ First Amendment rights in Rigau v. Quintana, securing reimbursement of improperly deducted union dues and binding commitments to prevent future unauthorized deductions from the wages of Puerto Rico Industrial Commission (PRIC) employee Luis Rigau. The agreements resolve his claims against his employer, Commission President María T. Quintana, in her official capacity, and the union, Federación Central de Trabajadores, UFCW Local 481. Rigau’s lawsuit challenged the unauthorized reinstatement of his union membership and the resumption of union dues deductions from his wages, despite his repeated written objections. The Liberty Justice Center represented Rigau alongside the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.
Compulsory Union Dues Are Illegal – Liberty Justice Center Sues Puerto Rico Industrial Commission for Repeated Violation of First Amendment Rights
November 22, 2025 // Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, the case asserts that PRIC and UFCW Local 481 have been deducting dues from Mr. Rigau’s paycheck since December 2022 despite his repeated written objections and his 2018 resignation from union membership following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME. In Janus, the Court held that public employers and unions cannot deduct dues or fees from a public employee’s pay without the employee’s affirmative consent and a knowing, voluntary waiver of First Amendment rights.