Officers Sue Town Over Dues
Five current and former part-time Westerly police officers are suing the town, the police chief and the police union for allegedly violating their constitutional rights by forcing them to pay union dues against their will.
The Providence Journal reports the officers filed the federal suit Monday. They are represented by the National Right to Work Foundation.
The suit alleges the town, several town officials and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 503 violated their rights by illegally deducting $5 an hour from their pay.
They claim the town cut their hours and pay when they objected to paying dues.