Minneapolis, MN (June 09, 2010) – The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a legal aid organization that assists employees nationwide, is announcing an offer of free legal assistance to any Minneapolis nurses who do not wish to participate in an impending union-instigated strike.

According to recent press reports, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) union has decided to initiate a strike against 14 hospitals in the Twin Cities area. Some 4000 nurses either voted against or did not vote at all when asked to walk out on their patients.

Ray LaJeunesse, Vice President and Legal Director of the National Right to Work Foundation, issued the following statement:

“Given the results of this election, many Minneapolis nurses may wish to work during the impending strike to ensure patients receive medical attention. Nurses who want to continue working must be made aware of their workplace rights, including the right to resign from union membership and not participate in a union-instigated strike. A more detailed description of every nurse’s legal rights can be found on the Foundation’s website at https://www.nrtw.org/a/a_7_p.htm

“Foundation attorneys are ready to advise Twin Cities nurses about their workplace rights. We are also prepared to provide free legal assistance to any nurses who are subjected to union harassment or retaliation for working during this or any subsequent strike initiated by MNA officials. You can call the Foundation toll free at 800-336-3600 or request free legal assistance via email at legal@nrtw.org.

“The National Right to Work Foundation is committed to helping nurses who wish to continue working rather than participate in a union-instigated strike,” continued LaJeunesse. “Nurses must assert their legal rights to ensure they aren’t subjected to draconian internal union discipline for choosing to remain on the job, and Foundation staff attorneys stand ready to assist them.”

Under Supreme Court precedent and federal law:

• Workers have the right to resign from union membership at any time.

• Workers have the right to go to work even if the union is on strike. If a worker chooses to work during a strike, he or she must first resign from union membership to avoid union disciplinary action or fines.

• Workers have the right to sign a decertification petition to hold a secret ballot election to eject union officials from their workplace.

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.