Columbus, OH – The Buckeye Institute secured victories for five of its clients in Darling v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), with AFSCME and the Ohio Education Association acknowledging that money was illegally taken out of workers’ paychecks and given to government unions.

“This is a significant victory for The Buckeye Institute’s clients and a vindication of their First Amendment rights,” said Jay R. Carson, senior litigator at The Buckeye Institute and the lead attorney representing the plaintiffs in this case. “In returning money that was illegally taken from Buckeye’s clients, the unions acknowledge that public employees have the right to quit government unions whenever they want and that when workers end their union membership, unions must immediately stop seizing workers’ wages.”

The Buckeye Institute won settlements for five of its clients:

• Lukas Darling of Campbell was a property enforcement officer for the Boardman Township Planning and Zoning Department. He was a member of AFSCME before he resigned on November 4, 2020.
• Tonya Iannarino of Toledo is an OMB specialist for Toledo Public Schools. She was a member of AFSCME before she resigned on November 13, 2020.
• Barb Larrow of Maumee is a bus driver for Toledo Public Schools. She was a member of AFSCME before she resigned on March 11, 2021.
• Deborah Pinion of Upper Sandusky is a highway technician with the Ohio Department of Transportation. She was previously a member of AFSCME before she resigned on March 20, 2020.
• Christin Wilkins of Bowling Green was an eighth-grade science teacher for the Columbus City School District. She was a member of the Ohio Education Association before she resigned on August 25, 2020.

The Buckeye Institute still represents five public employees in Darling v. AFSCME. All were members of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees:

• Chelsea Kolacki of Toledo is an office assistant for the Maumee City School District. She was a member of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees before she resigned on September 24, 2020.
• Kristy Kolacki of Toledo is a secretary for the Maumee City School District. She was a member of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees before she resigned on September 24, 2020.
• Laura Langsdale of Akron is a custodian for the Springfield Local School District. She was a member of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees before she resigned on October 20, 2020.
• Ronnie Legg of Galloway is a driver for the Columbus City School District. He was a member of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees before he resigned on August 20, 2020.
• Stephen Tulga of Columbus is a bus driver for the Upper Arlington City School District. He was a member of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees before he resigned on May 6, 2021.

This victory follows a win for Buckeye and National Right to Work in Wilson v. Lucas County Department of Job and Family Services and AFSCME Council 8. In that case, AFSCME returned illegally seized money to Penny Wilson, Theresa Fannin, and Kozait Elkhatib, and the union was forbidden from having Lucas County deduct union dues from any of their paychecks going forward. 

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