"We know you have been following recent events here at Mashantucket involving union activity. We are writing to you so that you might understand the position of the tribal nation, and hopefully understand that just as you are concerned with the rights of our workers, so are we.

First and foremost, the tribe has enacted numerous laws providing for the protection of our employees, and these laws can be accessed at www.mptnlaw.com.

As you can see, in reviewing these laws the tribe supports and protects employees' rights to unionize if they so vote. It specifically provides that a union can petition for recognition under tribal law and upon the same showing of interest through the signing of cards required under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), they are entitled to a secret ballot election to decide whether they would like to be represented by a union.

We have made clear to the United Auto Workers (UAW) and other labor organizations that they are fully entitled to seek union recognition under tribal law. Thus far, they have refused and the UAW has pursued this issue under federal law. Thus, the tribal nation is put in the unfortunate position of either disregarding its own laws or continuing to take whatever steps are necessary to preserve its right of self-government and have union issues addressed under the tribal laws as should be the case."

Get the Story:
Michael J. Thomas: Balancing The Rights Of Workers, Tribe (The New London Day 12/16)
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