The Nationwide Labor Relations Board has filed a criticism towards Edward Waters College, a traditionally Black college in Florida, after the college stopped recognizing its school union, The Tributary reported. The case goes to trial in November.
Leaders on the college, which is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, withdrew recognition of its chapter of the American Affiliation of College Professors two years in the past, arguing the college’s “rights as a non secular academic establishment” permitted them to take action.
In a letter to school members, directors wrote that eliminating the union would “enable the College to broaden its faith-based Christian mission, reasonably than the political agendas usually related to federal labor insurance policies.” In response, the AAUP chapter filed a cost with the NLRB claiming the college violated federal labor regulation.
Edward Waters isn’t the primary non secular greater ed establishment to argue that its non secular standing allows it to shutter its school union, The Tributary famous. A 2020 determination by the NLRB regarding Bethany School, a Lutheran establishment in Kansas, and a federal courtroom determination relating to Duquesne College, a Catholic establishment in Pittsburgh, broke with Obama-era precedent to rule that the NLRB didn’t have jurisdiction at non secular establishments, paving the way in which for the argument Edward Waters leaders made. Additionally in 2020, Saint Leo College in Florida unrecognized its school union, citing its Catholic roots. Primarily based on the Trump-era ruling on Bethany, an NLRB choose concluded that Saint Leo certified for the non secular exemption.
Edward Waters has till Sept. 12 to reply to the NLRB criticism.