Congressman Krishnamoorthi Demands Answers from Cabinet Secretaries on DHS Actions Targeting Striking Workers in Chicago

WASHINGTON - Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today sent a letterto Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Department of Labor Secretary Lori M. Chavez-DeRemer raising concerns about federal law enforcement conduct toward workers engaged in lawful strike activity in Chicago. In the letter, Congressman Krishnamoorthi cites video footage from December 16 showing uniformed officers interacting with striking workers in a manner that he warns may constitute unlawful interference with activity protected under federal labor law and the U.S. Constitution.

"Video footage recorded by members of the public shows Commander Bovino and uniformed law enforcement officers surrounding striking workers, laughing at them, and engaging in conduct that appears intended to intimidate and chill protected activity, all while the workers were engaged in lawful strike actions safeguarded by the U.S. Constitution and federal labor law," Congressman Krishnamoorthi wrote. "Federal courts, state courts, and federal agencies have long and consistently held that core labor protections, including the right to organize, to engage in concerted activity, and to be free from retaliation, apply to all workers, regardless of immigration status. Federal law enforcement officials have no lawful basis to interfere with workers' rights to organize or to collectively bargain."

The letter also cautions against the use, or perceived use, of immigration enforcement during labor disputes. "The use, or perceived use, of immigration enforcement as leverage during a labor dispute is fundamentally incompatible with federal labor policy and corrodes trust in both labor and immigration institutions," Congressman Krishnamoorthi wrote in the letter.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi requests that the Department of Labor promptly review the incident and, where appropriate, coordinate with or refer the matter to the National Labor Relations Board, and examine whether Mauser or any entity acting on its behalf coordinated with immigration enforcement officials in connection with the intimidation of Teamsters Local 705 workers.

He concludes by requesting a prompt response detailing what steps the Departments are taking to investigate the matter and to ensure that federal law enforcement is never used, explicitly or implicitly, to suppress lawful labor activity.

The letter is available here.