Illinois Lawmakers Back Resurrection Workers' Fight to Organize with AFSCME

January 01, 2006

Nine thousand workers — employees of Chicago's Resurrection Health Care system —have been trying since 2003 to form a union with Council 31. This week, they got some backing from Washington. Eleven members of Illinois' congressional delegation, including Democratic U.S. Sens. Barack Obama and Richard Durbin, are urging the corporation's officials to "initiate a dialogue" with the workers and honor their right to organize.

Nurses and other health care employees of Resurrection, the Chicago area's second-largest health care system, have faced hostile union-busting tactics in their fight for recognition. Eight union activists have been fired, creating a climate of fear. In June, hospital security refused to allow an interfaith group of clergy to deliver a letter to Resurrection CEO Joseph Toomey, urging him to reinstate those workers and to cease the company's anti-union activities. The letter was signed by more than 125 Chicago-area religious leaders. Council 31 has filed more than 30 complaints over Resurrection's illegal anti-union campaign with the National Labor Relations Board. Twenty-two were found "meritorious."

In their letter to Toomey, the Democratic lawmakers encouraged him to begin talks with his employees "and AFSCME Council 31 to create an environment at all Resurrection hospitals that truly respects employees' right to organize."

Also signing the letter are Illinois U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Melissa Bean, Jerry Costello, Danny Davis, Rahm Emanuel, Luis Gutierrez, Jesse Jackson Jr., Daniel Lipinski and Bobby Rush. A Resurrection spokesperson said they would not hold discussions with the union. Read more on the AFL-CIO blog Illinois Members of Congress Back Workers at Resurrection Health.

Last year, Council 31 released a report detailing inadequate staffing, serious lapses in patient care and higher prices for services in the Resurrection Health Care system. View Report documents deteriorating quality of care at Resurrection hospitals; nurses speak out.