Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) served a subpoena on Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW Local 2325 (Local 2325) President Lisa Ohta after the union failed to respond to Committee oversight inquiries relating to the contentious vote and subsequent adoption of the “Resolution Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza, an End to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, and Support for Workers’ Political Speech” (Resolution) despite several union members’ objections. The Resolution—which calls for the economic boycott of Israel and fails to acknowledge the barbaric attacks committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023—has been the source of significant controversy within the union.
 
In the cover letter accompanying the subpoena, Foxx writes: “On January 29, 2024, the Committee sent Local 2325 a letter on the vote and adoption of the “Resolution Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza, an End to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, and Support for Workers’ Political Speech.” … The Committee noted how several of Local 2325’s members were forced to be associated with a union that had taken a critical position affecting their faith, the State of Israel, and Israel’s sovereignty.”
 
The letter continues: “The information sought in the letter is critical to help the Committee consider and develop potential legislation aimed at ensuring that bargaining unit members are aware of their rights and that unions respect the rights of their members—a central concern made apparent during Local 2325’s adoption of the Resolution.”
 
Foxx concludes: “The Committee attempted to provide Local 2325 with fair accommodations and with the opportunity to communicate with the Committee about such accommodations. Furthermore, Local 2325 had several opportunities to apprise the Committee of any issues with its production. However, Local 2325’s legal representative communicated only minimally and stated Local 2325 would not respond on the day the scheduled production was due. This is unacceptable, and as a result, the Committee must now resort to compulsory process.”
 
To read the full cover letter, click here.
 
Background
 
January 29, 2024: The Committee sent a letter to Local 2325 requesting information on the union’s vote and adoption of the “Resolution Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza, an End to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, and Support for Workers’ Political Speech” by February 12.
 
February 8, 2024: Local 2325’s legal representative contacted the Committee via email requesting additional time to respond to the Committee’s inquiry, which the Committee graciously granted during a call with the representative by extending the deadline to produce materials to February 19.
 
February 19, 2024: Local 2325’s legal representative contacted the Committee via email and stated that Local 2325 would not be cooperating with the Committee’s inquiry “at this time.”
 
February 20, 2024: Committee staff replied to Local 2325’s legal representative offering an additional two days to reconsider and produce materials by February 26, 2024.
 
March 8, 2024: Chairwoman Foxx sent a subpoena requiring Local 2325 to produce documents and communications related to the vote and adoption of the Resolution by March 25, 2024.

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