Dear Sr. Sniegowski and Sr. Kiepura:

As you know, for several years workers employed at your hospitals have been organizing with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for workplace representation. I am writing to urge you to undertake a dialogue with AFSCME to develop a fair and just process by which these workers can make their own decisions about unionization without employer interference.

I am deeply disturbed to learn that the regional director of the National Labor Relations Board has found merit in 15 different unfair labor practice charges filed against Resurrection Health Care since the workers began organizing with AFSCME. Although Resurrection has entered into settlements in these cases, the charges involved--including allegations of harassment, intimidation and surveillance of employees attempting to exercise their right to freedom of association—give rise to serious concern.

Our Catholic doctrine could not be clearer about the right of workers to organize into unions. As Pope John Paul II so eloquently stated:

"Workers have the right to form associations for the purpose of defending their vital interests... organizations of this type are an indispensable element of social life, especially in modern industrialized societies. Catholic Social teaching...hold[s] that unions are...indeed a mouthpiece for the struggle for social justice, for the just rights of working people in accordance with their individual professions... people unite to secure their rights, their union remains a constructive factor of social order and solidarity, and it is impossible to ignore it."

Engaging in a dialogue with the union to discuss a protocol to ensure that the right of workers to organize is respected is consistent with the purpose of the National Labor Relations Act as well as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ working paper, A Fair and Just Workplace, which states:

“Consistent with the requirements of labor law and according to the principles of Catholic teaching, all parties should agree on ground rules for how the union and management will meet with workers, distribute materials, make public statements, and ultimately what process will be used for workers to make their final decision.”

I strongly urge to take steps to amicably resolve this dispute. Please sit down with the union’s leaders and negotiate a fair procedure so the workers’ rights to organize will finally be respected.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.

Sincerely,