Unionized professional and scientific employees at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City are suing the Iowa Board of Regents and university managers, alleging they denied them their right to recruit and conduct outreach away from patients and visitors, reports The Gazette.
Here are five things to know.
1. The Service Employees International Union, which represents 3,500 professional and scientific workers at the health system, filed the lawsuit in Johnson County District Court.
2. In the lawsuit, union members said a registered nurse with the university — who was on leave to help the union with its outreach to members and to recruit new union members — was asked on multiple occasions to leave or be escorted away during discussions in non-patient care areas this summer, according to the report.
3. Overall, the nurse, Jessica Kratofil, RN, said there were at least six times between July 18 and Aug. 5 where she and union officials feel the university breached a 2001 contractual agreement, according to the report. That agreement stated that "employees may engage in incidental personal conversations, including discussions regarding union membership," according to the report, which cites the lawsuit.
4. The lawsuit asks a judge to order the university to let union representatives "conduct its lawful activities."
5. When asked for comment, the university said it "has a longstanding practice of not discussing matters that involve pending litigation."