Like many progressive organizations, the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, a union that represents public defenders in the New York City area, has been convulsed by battles over Israel’s war in Gaza.
A recent article in the right-leaning Free Press revealed the strident and sometimes ugly language that union members used during a fight over a resolution, passed in December, condemning Israel’s actions and supporting a boycott of the country.
Nevertheless, it’s disturbing that Congress is now investigating the union over the resolution, an alarming degree of government intrusion into the free speech rights of a private organization.
“When union bosses act in a way that is purposefully divisive and combative toward their membership, they challenge the validity of their monopoly.”The idea that the resolution pit “union bosses” against the rank and file is a strange one, since the resolution passed by a vote of 1,067 to 570, but the framing reflects Foxx’s broader hostility toward organized labor.
On Monday, she subpoenaed the union’s internal communications around the resolution’s passage.
Persons:
”, Virginia Foxx, “
Organizations:
Association of Legal Aid, New, Free Press, “, ”, Education, Work Force
Locations:
New York City, Gaza, Israel