ST. CLOUD (AP) -- A St. Cloud State University professor has filed a federal lawsuit alleging her rights are being violated because she doesn't agree with the union that represents her.

Political science professor Kathleen Uradnik is suing St. Cloud State, the Inter Faculty Organization and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system's board of trustees.

The lawsuit argues that the union is designated as university employees' exclusive representative, which violates Uradnik's free speech rights because she has no choice but to support the union's actions, even if she disagrees with them. Uradnik's attorney Robert Alt says his tenured client isn't a union member.

The lawsuit also alleges that the university treats non-union faculty members as second class by barring them from serving on committees.

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