Aloha UPW ʻOhana,
We want to alert you to a mass letter campaign currently being conducted by an anti-union group called the Freedom Foundation. These letters are being mailed directly to UPW members and are designed to mislead recipients into surrendering their personal information by pretending it’s part of a union process.
What You Need to Know:
• Fake Check: The letter includes an image of a fake check with a dollar amount, falsely claiming to represent your union dues. This is NOT a real check and does NOT provide any payment. The amount is made up. Your actual dues are not reflected, and this image is meant to deceive.
• Scam Risk: If you fill out and return the attached form, it does not come to the union. Instead, it supplies the Freedom Foundation with all of your personal information, exposing you to scam risks.
• Not From UPW: If you or anyone you know receives this letter, please know that it is NOT from us. If you have questions, do not hesitate to reach out to UPW directly for clarification.
We urge all members to protect themselves. Do not respond to or engage with these letters. If you are considering changes to your membership or have concerns, please visit our office in person so we can assist you directly and safely.
Who is the Freedom Foundation?
The Freedom Foundation is a mainland, wealthy, anti-union group paid by powerful billionaire employers to attack our workers and unions here in Hawaii. Their goal is simple: they want to weaken the union so they can easily cut your pay, take your benefits, and eliminate your job protections. They try to trick you by mailing deceptive letters and forms that look official, asking you to sign and send back a paper that will give them your personal information and take away your union membership. DO NOT fill out, sign, or send back any mail you receive from the “Freedom Foundation” or similar groups, and DO NOT give them your personal information; IMMEDIATELY show any of their materials to your Union Representative to protect yourself and your coworkers.
UPW, in collaboration with AFSCME, has been actively working to push back against the Freedom Foundation’s campaigns and protect our ʻohana. Stay akamai, and contact your Union Representative with any questions.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us directly at (808) 847-2631 or visit our office.
United Public Workers – Standing Strong, Together!
