Press Releases

Today, Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chairman Rick Allen (R-GA) delivered the following statement, as prepared for delivery, at a hearing titled "Bad Medicine: Politics, Unions, and Antisemitism in Health Care":

"Today’s hearing will examine how health care unions are using their resources to advance an anti-Israel political agenda while harassing and discriminating against Jewish doctors, nurses, and other health care workers. Instead of fulfilling their duty to fairly represent all employees, these unions have chosen to engage in divisive, discriminatory, and antisemitic conduct.
 
"This Subcommittee held a hearing nine months ago about the alarming rise of antisemitic incidents in our country and in our workplaces. Unfortunately, the problem has only worsened. Across the nation and around the world, Jewish people continue to face discrimination, intimidation, and violence.
 
"The unions we will discuss today have devoted time, money, and institutional influence to advance their divisive, harmful, and discriminatory political agenda. In doing so, they are contributing to a workplace culture in our hospitals and medical institutions that is hostile and discriminatory for Jewish employees.
 
"For example, the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR), an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, represents thousands of medical residents, interns, and fellows across the country. After the October 7th massacre of Israeli civilians, CIR adopted a series of resolutions condemning Israel for genocide. One resolution endorsed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and called on CIR members to encourage teaching hospitals to cut all ties with Israel—including financial investments, pension funds, retirement accounts, academic partnerships, and intellectual property relationships.
 
"It is no surprise that many doctors and nurses are afraid to speak up about what their unions are doing in their workplaces. Many fear retaliation, professional isolation, or becoming targets themselves if they exercise their rights under federal labor law.  
 
"Workers have rights to speak out against union leadership and to decline to fund political activities with which they disagree. The Civil Rights Act protects workers from having to sacrifice their faith and their principles to get and keep a job. In public hospitals and clinics, medical professionals also have the right to decline union membership and cannot be required to pay union dues or fees. Yet, under current labor law, CIR exclusively represents all employees in a bargaining unit, even those who voted against the union or strongly disagree with the union’s statements and policy following October 7th.
 
"Today we will hear directly from those on the frontlines of our hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices about the antisemitism they have experienced and witnessed in their workplaces.
 
"My colleagues on the other side of the aisle may be frustrated that we continue to discuss workplace antisemitism. I’m frustrated, too. But until Jewish workers can expect dignity and safety in their workplaces—and until unions return to their core mission of representing all workers—we cannot afford to stop talking about it."

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