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The '''National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation''' or '''NRTWLDF''' (legally registered as the National Right to Work Legal Defense & Education Foundation Inc.) is an non-profit [[501(c)3]] organization that attacks launches legal actions against labor organizations . Its mission is to "eliminate coercive union power and compulsory unionism abuses through the US court systemstrategic litigation, public information, and education programs."<ref>National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, "[http://www.nrtw.org/en/about About]," organization website, accessed May 6, 2014. </ref>

The Foundation works together with the [[National Right to Work Committee]], which lobbies for anti-union legislation. The NRTWLDF was founded in 1968. They say: "The [[National Right to Work Committee]] was then active in Congress and state legislatures...but it was not structured to give legal aid. So by 1968, the time had come...rather than working in the legislative arena, such an organization could fight through the court system."<ref>[http://www.nrtw.org/b/foundation_history.htm "A Brief History of the Foundation"], National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, accessed October 2007. </ref>

*Chairman ==Ties to the Bradley Foundation==Through 2016, NRTWLDF has received [[Contributions of the Bradley Foundation | $1,161,500]] from the [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]. Bradley detailed the most recent grants in internal documents examined by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD). Below is a description of the grants prepared by CMD. The quoted text was written by Bradley staff. '''2015''': $100,000 to support general operations of this anti union organization, a primary backer of anti-union legislation at the state and federal level which defunds unions, to help weaken the left. This grant is to support this organization’s “pursuit of vindicating and expanding employee rights in the face of Big Labor’s infringements on them.” '''2014''': $75,000 to support general operations. NRTWLDF won a “resounding victory” in Washington state Davenport v. Washington Education Association and also won case in the Supreme Court in 2012, Knox v SEIU. “Bradley has always expressed a particular interest in combating coercive union power as exercised through the anti democratic ‘card check’ process… NRTWLDF’s litigation and other activities emphasize the same interest… With the help of attorneys from NRTWLDF and the Bradley supported [[Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty]], three Wisconsin civil servants asked the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals last year to uphold Gov. [[Scott Walker]]’s public sector union reform measures in Act 10… It is also fighting union only project labor agreements and ‘labor peace’ ordinances.” '''2013''': $75,000 to support general operations. “Its 17 in house attorneys are currently litigating almost 200 cases and administrative actions in all 50 states.” NRTWLDF “is trying to stop the Board threat of Trustees forced unionism in new employment sectors. New union targets include doctors, nurses, home care workers, graduate students, airport screeners, temp workers, charter school teachers and independent contractors.” {{Bradley}} ==Ties to the Koch Brothers== [[Mark Mix]], the Foundation's president, attended the [[Koch Event 2010- Dr06 Attendees|June 2010 Koch Strategy Group Meeting]]. He spoke on a panel entitled "Mobilizing Citizens for November" along with Koch operative [[Sean Noble]], [[Karl Crow]] of [[Themis]], and [[Tim Phillips]] of [[Frederick CAmericans for Prosperity]].<ref>Think Progress, "[http://images2.americanprogressaction.org/ThinkProgress/secretkochmeeting.pdf Secret Koch Meeting Documents]," organization website, accessed May 8, 2014. Fowler</ref> According to Jane Mayer in her book ''Dark Money'', III:[[Fred Koch]]"was an early and active member of the Wichita-based DeMille Foundation for Political Freedom, an anti-labor group that was a forerunner of the National Right to Work Defense Foundation. In a revealing private letter, one of its staff members explained the group's "Astroturf" strategy. In reality, he said, big-business industrialists would run the group, serving as its "anonymous quarterbacks," and "call the turns." But he said they needed to sell the "yarn" that the group was "composed of housewives, farmers, small businessmen, professional people, wage earners-not big business industrialists." Otherwise, he admitted, the movement was "almost certainly doomed to failure.""<ref name="jm">Jane Mayer, [Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right], ''Jane Mayer'', 2016.</ref>{{Template:KochConnection}} ==2018 Janus vs. AFSCME Case== *Chairman '''Janus vs. AFCME Council 31''' was argued before the U. Supreme Court on February 26, 2018.<ref>SCOTUS Blog, [http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/janus-v-american-federation-state-county-municipal-employees-council-31/] Accessed February 15, 2018.</ref> Mark Janus is a child support worker for the State of Illinois who does not want to pay the agency fees (also known as fair share fees) required to compensate the union representing Illinois state workers for the cost of his representation. Lawyers for the NRTWLDF argued this case before the Supreme Court and the Executive Committee Friedricks vs. California Teachers Association case that preceded it in 2016. These cases are part and parcel of a coordinated legislative and legal strategy to dismantle unions being advanced in a systematic manner by an interlocking group of right-wing funders and Treasurer state- based groups. Learn more on the [[Reed EJanus vs. LarsonAFSCME]]Sourcewatch page.*President The case did not originate with Mark Janus, but with billionaire venture capitalist and Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. On the campaign trail, Rauner promised a Reaganesque showdown with the state’s public workers. Just weeks after being sworn-in in January 2015, Rauner blamed the state’s significant financial woes on public- sector unions, called for union membership to be voluntary, for the introduction of local level “right to work” ordinances, and for a repeal of prevailing wage laws that boost wages for construction workers. (Misnamed “right to work” laws allow workers in the private sector to free ride, leading to weaker unions and lower wages.) Faced with a defiant Democratic legislature, Rauner acted unilaterally issuing an Executive Order<ref>Illinois.gov, [https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/government/execorders/2015_13.aspx] Accessed February 15, 2018.</ref> blaming budget deficits on public workers and fair share fees and directing Illinois to stop withholding and passing on the fees to unions. (Later before a friendly crowd at the [[Hoover Institute]] Rauner would admit his proposal had “nothing to dow with the budget.”)<ref>Hoover Institution, [https://www.hoover.org/research/budget-crisis-land-lincoln] Accessed February 15, 2018.</ref> Rauner knew the unions would fight back in court, so he also filed a federal lawsuit, Rauner v. AFSCME, seeking to have his decision declared legal and hoping to move the issue rapidly to the friendly venue of the U.S. Supreme Court. Because the federal court found he did not have standing, a small group of effected workers were put forward as intervenors, including Mark Janus.  Rauner’s original lawsuit was advanced by the [[Illinois Policy Institute]]’s Liberty Justice Center. IPI is a $7 million member of both ALEC and SPN. IPI has also been funded by the [[Donors Capital]] and [[Donors Trust]] the preferred investment vehicle of the Koch network of funders. It has also been funded by family foundations of billionaire [[Richard Uihlein]], and [[Rebekah Mercer]]. Plus, Rauner himself gave IPI $500,000 and poached some of its top staff in the early days of his administration. <ref>Bernard Schoenburg, [http://www.sj-r.com/article/20131107/News/311079879 Bernard Schoenburg: Illinois Policy Institute got half million from Rauner], ''The State Journal-Register'', November 7, 2013.</ref> Recently the Chicago Sun-Times called for a criminal investigation of the group for mixing for-profit and not-for-profit activities. Learn more on the [[Illinois Policy Institute]] Sourcewatch page. <ref>Mick Dumke and Tina Sfondeles, [https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/small-government-think-tank-yields-big-bucks-for-nonprofits-leaders/ Small-government think tank yields big bucks for nonprofit’s leaders], ''Chicago Sun Times'', February 11, 2018.</ref><ref>[https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-illinois-policy-institute-nonprofit-tax-status-begs-for-fbi-probe/ Editorial: Illinois Policy Institute nonprofit tax status begs for FBI probe], ''Chicago Sun Times'', February 12, 2018.</ref> The [[National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation]] supplied the lawyers for most of the anti-union cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and they are now the lead attorney’s in the Janus case. The group was founded in 1968 and has a mission to "eliminate coercive union power.” The 501 C3 litigation group combined with its 501 C4 lobbying arm is a $15 million powerhouse, according to recently available IRS 990s. Amember of the SPN network, it receives funding from the Koch-tied Donor’s Trust/Donors Capital investment vehicles and two of the biggest foundations working to privatize the public education system, the Bradley Foundation and the Walton Foundation. Learn more on the [[Janus vs. AFSCME]] Sourcewatch page. Mix ==Notable Supreme Court Cases== *[[Abood v. Detroit Board of Education]](1977)*Vice President [[Ellis v. Brotherhood of Railway, Airline and Legal Director - Steamship Clerks]], et al. (1984)*[[Chicago Teachers Union v. Hudson]] (1986)*[[Communications Workers of America v. Beck]] (1988)*[[Lehnert v. Ferris Faculty Association]] (1991)*[[Air Line Pilots Association v. Miller]] (1998)*[[Raymond JMarquez v. LaJeunesse, JrScreen Actors Guild]] (1998)*[[Davenport v.Washington Education Association]](2007)*Vice President and Assistant Treasurer - [[Stefan HKnox v. GleasonService Employees International Union]](2012)*Vice President [[Harris v. Quinn]] (2014): the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in January 2014. Lawyers from the NRTWLDF argued that unionized home-care workers in Illinois, who are paid with state Medicaid money, should not be required to pay union dues.<ref>Amanda Becker, "[http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/21/usa-court-home-idUSL2N0KV1EN20140121 U.S. justices wary of free-speech argument in union dues challenge]," Reuters, January 21, 2014.</ref> They asked the Court to overturn its decision in Abood, which allowed unions to collect compulsory dues that support non-political activities. [[Joel Rogers]] writes in ''The Nation'' that ''Harris'' is "arguably the most important labor law case the Court has considered in decades...NRTWC success here would be a disaster for labor, particularly for the public sector unions that traditionally rely more heavily on agency shop agreements."<ref>Joel Rogers, "[http://www.thenation.com/article/179033/why-harris-v- quinn-has-labor-very-very-nervous# Why ‘Harris v. Quinn’ Has Labor Very, Very Nervous]," The Nation, March 27, 2014.</ref>*[[Alicia AJanus v. AuerswaldAFSCME]](2018) ==Other Cases== *Secretary As of February 2014, the Foundation's 11 staff attorneys and network of hundreds of local attorneys nationwide were involved in nearly 300 legal actions nationwide in courts and administrative agencies, including the [[National Labor Relations Board]].<ref>Gregory Heires, "[http://www.thenewcrossroads.com/2014/02/03/public-employee-unions-targeted-in-right-wing-case-before-the-supreme-court/ Public-Employee Unions Targeted in Right- wing Case before the Supreme Court]," The New Crossroads, February 3, 2014.</ref> In March 2014, Foundation attorneys sued [[Volkswagen]] and the [[Virginia MUnited Auto Workers]] in federal court in Chattanooga, Tennessee, alleging that VW violated the Labor Management Relations Act by providing "things of value" to UAW before an unsuccessful unionization vote.<ref>Amanda Becker, "[http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/13/us-autos-vw-lawsuit-idUSBREA2C1VJ20140313 Anti-union workers sue Volkswagen, UAW over Tennessee plant]," Reuters, March 13, 2014. Smith</ref> The UAW challenged the results of the election with the [[NLRB]], requesting a new election, and the Foundation is seeking an injunction to prevent VW from holding mandatory employee meetings about the election if there is another vote.<ref>Brent Snavely, "[http://www.freep.com/article/20140313/BUSINESS0104/303130144/UAW-Volkswagen-right-to-work-election-union-lawsuit Anti-union group files federal lawsuit against UAW and Volkswagen]," Detroit Free Press, March 13, 2014.</ref>

The NRWLDF has received 25 grants totalling $2,094==Core Financials=='''<big>2018</big>'''<ref name="2018 form">National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation,500 (unadjusted for inflation) from a handful of conservative U.S. foundations between 1991 and 2002.[httphttps://www.mediatransparencydocumentcloud.org/recipientgrantsdocuments/6783933-National-Right-to-Work-Legal-Defense-and.php?1128html 2018 IRS 990 Form], organizational tax filing, August 12, 2019.</ref>* Total Revenue: $13,590,158* Total Expenses: $7,087,198* Net Assets: $27,341,254

Funding foundations have included:*[[Castle Rock '''<big>2017</big>'''<ref name="2017 form">National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation]]*, [[John Mhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6025846-NRTWLDF-2017-990. Olin Foundation]html 2017 IRS 990 Form], organizational tax filing, August 2, 2018.</ref>*[[Shelby Cullon Foundation]]Total Revenue: $9,591,913*[[Jaquelin Foundation]]Total Expenses: $6,147,000*[[Roe Foundation]]Net Assets: $23,387,143

'''Grants Distributed'''*National Institute for Labor Relations Research: $100,000 for "general support" '''<big>2016</big>'''<ref name="2016form">National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4353389-NRTWLDF-2016-990.html 2016 IRS 990 Form], organizational tax filing, July 27, 2017.</ref>* Total Revenue: $5,093,633* Total Expenses: $6,013,795* Net Assets: $19,080,578 '''Grants Distributed'''*The Center on National Labor Policy: $25,000 for "litigation support"*Foundation for Applied Conservative Leadership: $30,000 for "general support"*National Institute for Labor Relations Research: $75,000 for "general support" '''<big>2015</big>'''<ref>National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, [https://pp-990.s3.amazonaws.com/2016_09_EO/59-1588825_990_201512.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm= Website AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAI7C6X5GT42DHYZIA%2F20180117%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20180117T215143Z&X-Amz-Expires=1800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=88fa99ed2eee7b19b7dfcadfe17f6ce657cd35ff39fdd3c8e14e028f13caefe9 2015 Form 990], organizational annual IRS filing, August 5, 2016.</ref>* Total Revenue: $5,271,794* Total Expenses: $6,299,710* Net Assets: $19,197,860 '''Grants Distributed'''*National Institute for Labor Relations Research: $75,000 for "general support"*[[Illinois Policy Institute]]: $70,000 for "general support"*The Center on National Labor Policy: $45,000 for "general support and litigation support"*Foundation for Applied Conservative Leadership: $15,000 for "general support" '''<big>2014</big>'''<ref>National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, [https://pp-990.s3.amazonaws.com/2015_08_EO/59-1588825_990_201412.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAI7C6X5GT42DHYZIA%2F20180117%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20180117T214307Z&X-Amz-Expires=1800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=c760a8ceec3fccc1bc61d69143925ec5cc4e3dfa3345e13d1edcb3625f936754 2014 Form 990], organizational tax filing, July 30, 2015.</ref>* Total Revenue: $7,673,646* Total Expenses: $6,186,508* Net Assets: $20,446,032 '''Grants Distributed'''*National Institute for Labor Relations Research: $75,000 for "general support"*The Center on National Labor Policy: $34,500 for "general support and litigation support"*The Citadel Foundation: $10,000 for "general support"*Campaign for Liberty Foundation: $10,000 for "general support" '''<big>2013</big>'''<ref>National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, [http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2014_09_EO/59-1588825_990_201312.pdf 2013 Form 990], organizational tax filing, August 12, 2014.</ref>* Total Revenue: $9,625,602* Total Expenses: $7,359,003* Net Assets: $19,053,684 '''Grants Distributed'''*National Institute for Labor Relations Research: $75,000 for "general support"*[[Employment Policies Institute]]: $50,000 for "general support"*Foundation for Michigan Freedom: $250,000 for "general support"*National Foundation for Gun Right: $8,000 for "general support"*Frederick Douglas Society: $10,000 for "support of educational conference presentation" '''<big>2012</big>'''<ref>National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2012/591/588/2012-591588825-099557d4-9.pdf 2012 Form 990], organizational tax filing, May 6, 2014.</ref>* Total Revenue: $8,544,587* Total Expenses: $6,181,650* Net Assets: $15,574,359 '''Grants Distributed'''*National Institute for Labor Relations Research: $75,000 for "general support"*Great Lakes Education Foundation: $250,000 for "general support" ===1991-2005===The Foundation received 85 grants totaling $4.54 million from conservative foundations between 1991 and 2005, including the [[Castle Rock Foundation]], [[John M. Olin Foundation, Inc.]], and the [[Walton Family Foundation]], according to Media Transparency.<ref>Gregory Heires, "[http://www.thenewcrossroads.com/2014/02/03/public-employee-unions-targeted-in-right-wing-case-before-the-supreme-court/ Public-Employee Unions Targeted in Right-wing Case before the Supreme Court]," The New Crossroads, February 3, 2014.</ref> ==Personnel==As of May 2019:<ref>National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, [https://www.nrtw.org/foundation-litigators/ Foundation Litigators], ''National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation'', May 2019.</ref> ===The Foundation's Litigators===*[[Raymond J. Lajeunesse]], Vice President and Legal Director*Byron S. Andrus, Staff Attorney*Bruce Cameron, Staff Attorney*Milton Chappell, Staff Attorney*Richard Clair, Corporate Counsel and Staff Attorney*Amanda Freeman, Staff Attorney*Frank Garrison, Staff Attorney*Matthew Gilliam, Staff Attorney*Alyssa Hazelwood, Staff Attorney*Jeffrey Jennings, Staff Attorney*William Messenger, Staff Attorney*John Raudabaugh, Staff Attorney*Brandon Rowland, Staff Attorney*Heidi Schneider, Staff Attorney*John Scully, Staff Attorney*Aaron Solem, Staff Attorney*Glenn Taubman, Staff Attorney*Angel Valencia, Staff Attorney*W. James Young, Staff Attorney ===Administrative Officers===As of May 2019:<ref>National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, [https://www.nrtw.org/foundation-frequently-asked-questions/ Frequently Asked Questions], ''National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation'', May 2019.</ref>*Sandra Crandall, Chairman of the Board of Trustees*Duncan Scott, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees*[[Mark Mix]], President*Raymond J. LaJeunesse, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer*Patrick Semmens, Vice President*Don Loos, Vice President ===Board of Trustees===As of August 2018:<ref name="2017 form"/>*[[Mark Mix]], Trustee and President*[[Steve Antosh]], Trustee*[[Patty Buffett]], Trustee*[[Sandra Crandall]], Chairman of the Board of Trustees*[[Eva Lynne Disbro]], Trustee*[[William Duross, III]], Trustee*[[Brent Reynolds]], Trustee*Frederick Fowler, Trustee*[[Joseph B. Meehan]], Trustee*[[Mark McGrane]], Trustee*Duncan Scott, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees*[[Charles Serio]], Trustee*[[Victor Senese]], Trustee*[[Kirk Shelley]], Trustee*William Walduck, Trustee '''Former Trustees'''*[[Reed Larson]], Trustee*[[G. Steve Allen]]*[[Ethelmae Humphreys]], Trustee*[[Jon Sween]], Trustee ==Contact Information==

WebWebsite: http://www.nrtw.org<br>Twitter: https://twitter.com/RightToWork<ref>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalRightToWork/<br> ==Articles & Resources== ===IRS Form 990 Filings===<div class="docframe"><p>2018</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6783933-National-Right-to-Work-Legal-Defense-and.html|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><p>2017</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6025846-NRTWLDF-2017-990.html|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><p>2016</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4353389-NRTWLDF-2016-990.html|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><p>2015</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4353623-NRTWLDF-2015-990.html|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><p>2014</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4353659-NRTWLDF-2014-990.html|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><p>2013</p><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4353620-NRTWLDF-2013-990.html|width=350|height=250}}</p></div>{{Clear}}

==External links=References===*[http://www.mediatransparency.org<references/recipientgrants.php?1128 National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation], accessed October 2004.>

[[category:labor]][[Category:Law]][[Category:United States]][[Category:Koch Connection]]