Catholic Scholars Back Resurrection Workers

by James Parks, Dec 17, 2006

More than 50 prominent Catholic theologians and scholars are calling on Resurrection Health Care (RHC) to respect the rights of its employees to join a union. RHC is Illinois’ largest Catholic health care chain and one of the largest in the nation.

Some 10,000 workers at RHC facilities have been fighting to win a voice at work with AFSCME Council 31 for four years in the face of intense management opposition. RHC management has threatened, harassed and intimidated employees, including firing eight union supporters.

Citing long-standing Catholic tradition that affirms the rights of workers to form unions free from management interference, the scholars, from Catholic colleges and universities across the nation, signed an open letter condemning RHC for harassing and intimidating employees. The letter also points out that RHC has hired Seyfarth Shaw, a law firm specializing in anti-union tactics, which has created a climate of fear among the hospitals’ employees.

In the letter, the scholars and theologians

urge Resurrection Health Care to engage in a good faith dialogue with the workers’ organizing committee in order to establish a fair process by which employees can freely decide on unionization. Anything less threatens to stifle the authentic voices of workers seeking fundamental justice in their working lives.

To read a copy of the open letter, click here.

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