Columbia College Chicago Is Accused of Retaliating Against Faculty-Union Leader

The National Labor Relations Board has charged Columbia College Chicago with retaliating against a faculty member because of her prominent role in a union for part-time instructors.

In a complaint filed last week, the federal board said that the private college had cut back Diana Vallera’s teaching assignments, accused her of misconduct, and threatened to either fire or suspend her for being president of the Part-Time Faculty Association. The college had scheduled a meeting in mid-August to discuss disciplinary actions against Ms. Vallera, a photography instructor, but it was postponed.

The complaint is an amendment to one the board filed in late July. That original complaint cited the college for, among other things, refusing to bargain in good faith with the union, which is affilated with the National Education Association. The board has already ruled that the college violated federal labor-relations laws in its dealings with the union, and ordered it to cease doing so.

Ms. Vallera, in a news release, said that the amended complaint “affirms the necessary protections union leaders must have in order to serve members.” The college has until September 11 to respond to the complaint, and a hearing is scheduled for late October.