High Country Times

On September 20, 2024, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) released a report alleging that unions have prioritized political agendas over member interests while engaging in antisemitic activities. The report highlights extensive antisemitic behavior within the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA), a United Auto Workers local union, following ALAA's adoption of an anti-Israel resolution in December 2023. It claims that union members' statutory rights were violated through retaliatory actions related to the resolution.

“Antisemitism has no place in any civil society, and unions that engage in divisive, anti-Israel politics must be held accountable,” said Chairwoman Foxx. “This report pinpoints the caustic, antisemitic ideology that has consumed many unions, ALAA in particular, while providing commonsense legislative prescriptions that will aid in properly educating union members across the nation on their statutory rights—one of them being the right to free speech. The time for accountability is now.”

Key findings from the report include:

- Unions have failed to respond adequately to Jewish members and supporters facing antisemitic attacks and harassment since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

- ALAA allegedly allowed antisemitic harassment to go unchecked and attempted to conceal its environment from Congress.

- Unions such as ALAA and the MIT Graduate Student Union (GSU) of the United Electrical Workers are accused of prioritizing political messaging over core workplace issues.

- Nearly 35 percent of ALAA members and almost 30 percent of MIT GSU members opposed political resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

- Rank-and-file union members reportedly lack awareness of their statutory rights under various labor laws and Supreme Court decisions.

The background section details a timeline of interactions between the Committee and ALAA:

- January 29, 2024: The Committee requested information from ALAA regarding its vote on an anti-Israel resolution by February 12.

- February 8, 2024: ALAA's attorney requested more time to respond; an extension was granted until February 19.

- February 19, 2024: ALAA's attorney stated non-cooperation with the inquiry.

- February 20, 2024: The Committee offered additional time until February 26.

- March 11, 2024: A subpoena was issued requiring document production by March 25.

- March 13, 2024: Leaked messages showed internal harassment against Jewish colleagues within ALAA.

- April 8, 2024: Chairwoman Foxx sent a letter addressing non-compliance with subpoena demands.

- May 14, 2024: A deposition subpoena was served to ALAA President Lisa Ohta amid ongoing obstruction concerns.

- May 28, 2024: Chairwoman Foxx introduced H.R.8573—the Union Members Right to Know Act—to inform union members about their free speech rights and religious exemptions regarding dues.

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