According to a PR Newswire press release, “Five healthcare workers and members of United Healthcare Workers-West have sued their Washington-based parent organization, Service Employees International Union, alleging violations of their federal rights to speak freely and to participate in union activities.”
Their lawsuit alleges that SEIU president Andy Stern and others at the union violated the Labor-Management Reporting Disclosure Act, which states that every union member has the right to free assembly and to meet with others members; members also have the right to speak their minds and argue various points of view.
The suit alleges that SEIU officials have asked for the removal of a workers’ website, where they shared information about union activities.
According to the workers’ complaint, the SEIU is attempting to “limit, inhibit, and chill the exercise of their rights of free speech.”
This is one of many examples of unions attempting to act like totalitarian governments, censoring free speech and putting road blocks in the way of basic employee freedoms. It is no wonder that union membership is declining and that workers feel they can do better for themselves without being placed like beasts of burden in union harnesses.
