Michael Weller is not a member of the Teamsters and elected to pay reduced dues that cover collective bargaining costs, but not other costs such as union political activities. Teamsters Local 2, based in Butte, wrote Weller saying the election would reduce his monthly dues by 69 cents, and that he would have to pay a $150 objector fee or the union would request he be fired.

Weller said he paid the charges out of fear of losing his job, and sought financial disclosure documents from the union to determine if he was paying the correct amount.

The union refunded the money and promised to provide full financial disclosure of the use of Weller's dues, to settle a complaint Weller filed with the National Labor Relations Board. The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation helped him with his complaint. A phone number for the Teamsters in Butte rang unanswered Friday afternoon.