Columbus, OH - The Buckeye Institute has initiated its fourth legal action against the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE), alleging unauthorized deductions from the pay of non-union public employees. The lawsuit, Vanderveer v. OAPSE, was filed in the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas with Katrina Vanderveer as the plaintiff.
“In yet another case, the Ohio Association of Public School Employees has refused to stop taking ‘dues’ out of our client’s paycheck,” commented Jay R. Carson, senior litigator at The Buckeye Institute and attorney for Vanderveer. “As in our other cases, The Buckeye Institute is asking the court to order the government union to stop its illegal wage theft.”
Katrina Vanderveer has served as a paraprofessional for a decade and has been part of the Pike-Delta-York High School community for the last three years. Her journey with the union began nearly as soon as her employment commenced, stemming from what she understood to be a requirement.
In June 2024, Vanderveer attempted to resign from the union and requested cessation of dues deductions. Initially, OAPSE refused, stating her opt-out period began on October 4, 2024. Vanderveer complied by sending letters and made numerous calls and emails within the specified timeframe. Despite her efforts, the union continued with the deductions.
The Buckeye Institute seeks judicial intervention to halt these deductions, issue an injunction against further dues collection, recover the deducted funds, cover legal expenses, and clarify jurisdiction between SERB and Ohio courts regarding union disputes.
Mrs. Vanderveer's narrative and further information on Vanderveer v. OAPSE can be found at BuckeyeInstitute.org/VanderveervOAPSE.