Southern Poverty Law Center Won’t Voluntarily Recognize Employee Union

Morris Dees and Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center. (Credit Image: © Buchan / Rex Shutterstock via ZUMA Press)

Southern Poverty Law Center management said Tuesday they would not voluntarily recognize a union organized by employees at the civil rights nonprofit and have hired a Virginia law firm whose website boasts about victories over labor organization attempts.

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The SPLC Union said in a statement Tuesday it was “disappointed” in the decision but that it would go through an election, if necessary.

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SPLC employees formed the union after a year of turmoil in the civil rights organization that saw founder Morris Dees fired and several top executives, including President Richard Cohen and Legal Director Rhonda Brownstein, depart the SPLC.