Non-Union Workers Lawfully Filed Unfair Labor Practice Charges and Went on Strike

The Warehouse Worker Resource Center, a non-profit employee advocacy group, filed an unfair labor practice charge against a warehouse company and affiliated agencies that supply the company with some of its workers. The charge alleged that the company interfered with the workers’ concerted protected activities under the National Labor Relations Act. Allegedly, the company’s general manager told employees they could not use his name in protest materials and threatened to fire workers.

Just six days after the unfair labor practice charge was filed, about two dozen employees went on strike. The workers participating in the strike did not indicate when they would be returning to work.

This case serves as a good reminder that non-union companies are not immune to unfair labor practice charges or strikes. Even companies without unions must comply with the National Labor Relations Act and can be forced to defend an unfair labor practice charge before the National Labor Relations Board.

Matt Austin is a lawyer based in the Columbus, Ohio office of Roetzel & Andress, LPA who limits his practice to representing employers dealing with labor, employment, and OSHA matters. You can call Matt at (614) 723-2010 or email him at maustin@ralaw.com.