A University of Chicago Medical Center nurse alleges she was threatened with termination by National Nurses United officials when she refused to join the union or pay full dues, according to a National Right to Work Foundation release.
Jennifer Heyd's story comes five days after 1,300 unionized nurses at UCMC voted to authorize a strike if their bargaining demands were not met. Contract negotiations have been underway since August between NNU and the hospital.
According to the release, Illinois' Right to Work Law allows organizations to mandate employees pay certain union dues as a condition of employment. However, the Supreme Court precedent Communication Workers v. Beck holds that no employee can be charged for union activities unrelated to workplace bargaining, including dues collected for members-only events or political activism. In addition, no worker can be forced to join a union as a condition of employment.
Ms. Heyd alleges she attempted to contact union officials in Jan. 2011 to explain her desire to refrain from union membership. She allegedly received no response and says she contacted the union against in Feb. 2011 to restate her opposition.
A union official then allegedly informed Ms. Heyd she would have to sign a membership card and authorize union dues deductions or be fired. Ms. Heyd has reportedly filed unfair labor practice charges against the NNU union, which will be investigated by the National Labor Relations Board.
Read more about the National Right to Work Foundation.
Read more about the University of Chicago Medical Center:
-University of Chicago Medical Center Nurses Vote to Strike
-Patient Death Puts University of Chicago Medical Center's Medicare Funding at Risk
-University of Chicago Medical Center Nurses Plan Strike Vote for April
Jennifer Heyd's story comes five days after 1,300 unionized nurses at UCMC voted to authorize a strike if their bargaining demands were not met. Contract negotiations have been underway since August between NNU and the hospital.
According to the release, Illinois' Right to Work Law allows organizations to mandate employees pay certain union dues as a condition of employment. However, the Supreme Court precedent Communication Workers v. Beck holds that no employee can be charged for union activities unrelated to workplace bargaining, including dues collected for members-only events or political activism. In addition, no worker can be forced to join a union as a condition of employment.
Ms. Heyd alleges she attempted to contact union officials in Jan. 2011 to explain her desire to refrain from union membership. She allegedly received no response and says she contacted the union against in Feb. 2011 to restate her opposition.
A union official then allegedly informed Ms. Heyd she would have to sign a membership card and authorize union dues deductions or be fired. Ms. Heyd has reportedly filed unfair labor practice charges against the NNU union, which will be investigated by the National Labor Relations Board.
Read more about the National Right to Work Foundation.
Read more about the University of Chicago Medical Center:
-University of Chicago Medical Center Nurses Vote to Strike
-Patient Death Puts University of Chicago Medical Center's Medicare Funding at Risk
-University of Chicago Medical Center Nurses Plan Strike Vote for April