Latest news with #NationalLaborRelationsAct
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus Council poised to reject fire truck contract amid Dublin company's worker strike
The Columbus City Council is poised to reject a contract it approved in May with Dublin-based fire-truck manufacturer Sutphen Corp. after the company's workers' union went on strike. The council will consider rescinding its May approval of a contract with Sutphen for a ladder truck at its July 21 meeting. The new ordinance states that the city was never able to agree on a contract with Sutphen that included the conditions the council wanted. The council sought a contract that allowed the city to cancel if a strike delayed delivery of the truck or if the company used non-union, or "scab," workers. Also tonight, the council will consider a contract with Atlantic Emergency Solutions to buy a ladder truck made by Pierce Manufacturing. Columbus would spend a bit more on the new contract: $2,589,077 versus $2,515,613. The difference includes $33,000 to deliver the truck. In the background of this dispute over a single truck, the Columbus Local 67 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters has raised concerns that the city needs to replace aging fire trucks. Steven Stein, president of the union, went to the media in April and accused the city of inadequately funding fire trucks for years. The union asked the city to develop an aggressive plan to buy more trucks. Another union, Teamsters Local 284, represents about 85 workers at Sutphen Corp.'s Dublin facility who have gone without a contract since October. The workers went on strike in late May, less than a month after Teamsters Local 284 President Mark Vandak warned the Columbus City Council that labor negotiations were going poorly and a strike was possible. The council, which is made up of nine Democrats, is heavily pro-union and members have attempted to pressure Sutphen to negotiate in good faith with the Teamsters. A spokesperson for the Sutphen Corp. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Teamsters say Sutphen is punishing them for going to Columbus City Council Vandak told The Dispatch that Sutphen returned to the bargaining table in June with a worse offer than the company presented in October. "When the union asked Sutphen why it withdrew the proposal, company negotiators said it was because the union addressed Columbus City Council about the labor dispute and that cost them business," Vandak said in an emailed statement. "The First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the National Labor Relations Act protect the rights of our members to address our elected officials. Sutphen's conduct is outrageous." Vandak said Local 284 has filed additional unfair labor practice charges against Sutphen, which the National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating. Vandak says the strike in Dublin continues and the unfair labor practice picket line has expanded to Sutphen's Hilliard and Urbana locations. A timeline of the dispute over a fire truck contract The meeting this week is the third time this year that the Columbus City Council has considered this fire truck contract. On May 12, the council considered this contract with Sutphen for the first time. Vandak came to the meeting and asked the council to vote against the contract. He warned that a possible strike could delay delivery of a truck. The council voted 5-4 against the contract. A week later, on May 19, the council unanimously approved a contract as long as city staff was able to negotiate conditions the council was seeking, including provisions allowing them to cancel. City staff was never able to reach an agreement with Sutphen on a contract. On May 28, workers at Sutphen's Dublin facility announced that they were striking. In June, Vandak said that Sutphen continued to delay negotiating and has brought in non-union workers, or "scabs," from its Urbana facility. He said the company has come back to the negotiation table now, but continues to bargain in bad faith. This story will be updated based on Monday evening's Columbus City Council meeting. Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@ Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus considers new fire truck vendor due to strike at Sutphen Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
05-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: Roosevelt signs the National Labor Relations Act
Today is Saturday, July 5, the 186th day of 2024. There are 179 days left in the year. Today in History: On July 5, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act. Also on this date: In 1687, Isaac Newton first published his Principia Mathematica, a three-volume work setting out his mathematical principles of natural philosophy. In 1811, Venezuela became the first South American country to declare independence from Spain. In 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered his speech 'What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?' at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York. In 1865, the Secret Service Division of the U.S. Treasury Department was founded in Washington, D.C., with the mission of suppressing counterfeit currency. In 1937, Hormel introduced a canned meat product called Spam; more than 9 billion cans have been sold since. In 1940, during World War II, Britain and the Vichy government in France broke off diplomatic relations. In 1943, the Battle of Kursk began during World War II; in the weeks that followed, the Soviets were able to repeatedly repel the Germans, who eventually withdrew in defeat. In 1946, the modern bikini, designed by Frenchman Louis Reard, was first modeled in Paris. In 1947, Larry Doby made his debut with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first Black player in the American League three months after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the National League. In 1954, Elvis Presley recorded his first single, 'That's All Right,' at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1971, President Richard Nixon certified the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18. In 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to win a Wimbledon singles title, defeating Jimmy Connors. In 1977, Pakistan's army, led by General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq, seized power from President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In 1980, Bjorn Borg became the first male player to win five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles. In 1994, Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos as an online marketplace for books. In 1996, Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell by scientists at the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, was born. In 2011, a jury in Orlando, Florida, found Casey Anthony, 25, not guilty of murder, manslaughter and child abuse in the 2008 disappearance and death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee. In 2013, Pope Francis cleared two of the 20th Century's most influential popes to become saints in the Roman Catholic church, approving a miracle needed to canonize Pope John Paul II and waiving Vatican rules to honor Pope John XXIII. Today's Birthdays: Julie Nixon Eisenhower is 77. Rock star Huey Lewis is 75. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Rich 'Goose' Gossage is 74. NFL Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton is 69. Cartoonist Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) is 67. Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn is 66. Actor Edie Falco is 62. Actor Jillian Armenante is 61. Actor Kathryn Erbe is 60. Actor Michael Stuhlbarg is 57. Rapper RZA is 56. Author Gary Shteyngart is 53. R&B singer Joe is 52. Rapper Royce da 5'9' is 48. International Tennis Hall of Famer Amelie Mauresmo is 46. Actor Ryan Hansen is 44. Country musician Dave Haywood (Lady A) is 43. Actor Danay Garcia is 41. Retired soccer player Megan Rapinoe is 40. Actor Jason Dolley is 34. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is 31.
Chicago Tribune
23-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Jewel-Osco pharmacy division argues National Labor Relations Act unconstitutional
Jewel-Osco's pharmacy division argued this month that the structure of the National Labor Relations Board, the body that enforces federal labor law in the U.S., is unconstitutional. The company joins a lengthy and growing list of employers including SpaceX, Amazon, Trader Joe's, the University of Southern California, the dating app Grindr and Oak Brook-based hot dog empire Portillo's that have made similar arguments, either during administrative proceedings overseen by the labor board itself or in federal lawsuits seeking to get the agency declared unconstitutional. Osco, which was acquired by Jewel in 1961, entered the fray after local labor board officials issued a complaint against it last month alleging it had refused to bargain in good faith with the union representing its pharmacists, Teamsters Local 727. The company responded to those allegations by arguing that the National Labor Relations Act, the law it is accused of violating, is unconstitutional. The NLRA, also known as the Wagner Act, was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935. It has governed the rights of American workers to form unions, bargain collectively and organize together without retaliation from their employers for the last 90 years. The National Labor Relations Board is the independent federal agency charged with enforcing the NLRA. In addition to arguing that the NLRA is unconstitutional, Osco denied specific allegations leveled against it, including that it had failed to provide the Teamsters with information related to various grievances the union had filed on behalf of its members. Jayna Brown, general counsel for Teamsters Local 727, described the company's constitutionality arguments as 'completely unmeritorious.' Osco's outside counsel, from the law firm Littler Mendelson, specifically argued that the NLRB's administrative law judges and its board members are either unconstitutionally appointed or unconstitutionally protected from firing, echoing arguments made by SpaceX in federal court. Early this year, President Donald Trump fired former NLRB board member Gwynne Wilcox in an unprecedented move that set up a legal test of the latter argument. Wilcox has since sued over her firing. Last month, the Supreme Court issued an order that bars Wilcox from returning to the board while her legal challenge is ongoing. The firing of Wilcox has left the labor board without a quorum, meaning it cannot issue rulings on cases appealed to it from lower levels of review at the NLRB. In its June filing, Osco also argued that because the board lacks a quorum, the agency's general counsel and its regional officials in Chicago also lack authority to enforce the law, such as by issuing a complaint against Osco. That argument echoes one made earlier this year by Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon. The company's constitutional arguments are 'purely a tactic by management to skirt around their clear and undeniable legal obligations for their union-represented employees,' said Brown, the Teamsters' attorney. The local represents about 500 pharmacy workers in stores throughout Cook, DuPage, Lake and McHenry counties, Brown said. The pharmacists are working under a collective bargaining agreement that expires in 2028, she said. In a message sent to union members this month, the local's secretary-treasurer, John Coli, Jr., criticized what he described as the company's 'foolish choice to spend money on overpriced legal counsel instead of just doing … what is right by their hardworking employees.' Neither Jewel-Osco nor its parent company, Albertsons, responded to requests for comment. The first Jewel-Osco combination grocery-pharmacy stores opened in the 1960s. Osco's attorney has asked for the case against it to be dismissed in its entirety. A hearing in the case is set for early September.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal labor board demands Washington Post rehire reporter fired over social media attacks
The National Labor Relations Board is seeking reinstatement and back pay for former Washington Post reporter Felicia Sonmez, who was fired in 2022 after attacking colleagues and fiercely criticizing the paper on social media. Sonmez was terminated for insubordination after she continued condemning other Post reporters online despite multiple memos issued by then-executive editor Sally Buzbee calling for civility. The Washington-Baltimore News Guild filed an unfair labor practice charge over Sonmez's firing. The NLRB, Guild and Washington Post each filed briefs on Friday. "To put it bluntly, Respondent just got sick of Sonmez's Twitter activity criticizing the Post's and its policies, as well as its implementation—or lack thereof—of those policies. In response, Respondent decided to bypass its progressive discipline system and fire her because of those criticisms," NLRB prosecutors said. Wapo's Felicia Sonmez Torches 'White' Colleagues For 'Downplaying' Workplace Drama With 'Synchronized Tweets' When asking for the complaint to be dismissed, the Post argued that allowing Sonmez to return to the company "would cause unmanageable and unacceptable disruption," and referred to the actions that resulted in her dismissal as a "seven-day tirade." "Because Sonmez lacks the 'journalistic integrity' necessary to work in the Post's newsroom, she should not be reinstated," the Post argued. Read On The Fox News App The Guild believes the Post violated her rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The saga began in June 2022 when Sonmez went after then-colleague Dave Weigel for retweeting a joke: "Every girl is bi. You just have to figure out if it's polar or sexual." Sonmez was not amused and publicly criticized her colleague, also attacking her workplace by reacting, "Fantastic to work at a news outlet where retweets like this are allowed!" Sonmez then launched a days-long public tirade against the Post and many of her colleagues. Washington Post Torn To Shreds For Suspending Reporter Dave Weigel For A Retweet: 'Completely Insane' Weigel was placed on a one-month unpaid suspension despite having removed the retweet and issuing an apology. He left the Post to join the start-up site Semafor later that year. However, Sonmez's tweetstorms berating co-workers continued, and she began receiving public pushback from Post colleagues, who Sonmez then attacked publicly. She repeatedly ripped the paper's social media policy throughout the ordeal. Sonmez even took aim at "White" reporters who expressed solidarity with the paper amid infighting. "I don't know who the colleagues anonymously disparaging me in media reports are. But I do know that the reporters who issued synchronized tweets this week downplaying the Post's workplace issues have a few things in common with each other," Sonmez wrote during a lengthy Twitter thread, saying they "are all White." Washington Post Reporters Continue Airing Their Grievances With One Another On Twitter Despite Buzbee urging staffers to treat each other respectfully, following a week of constant viral warfare between Post colleagues, Sonmez was terminated. The Washington Post unveiled an updated social media policy after the ordeal. NLRB prosecutors are seeking reinstatement and back pay for Sonmez, who now works for Blue Ridge Public Radio. Sonmez declined comment. "The decision is now up to the judge," Sonmez wrote on X. The Washington Post did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital's Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report. Original article source: Federal labor board demands Washington Post rehire reporter fired over social media attacks
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OLCC removes labor agreement rule for cannabis businesses after Measure 119 ruling
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission is no longer requiring cannabis businesses to enter labor peace agreements in order to obtain or renew a cannabis license, the agency announced Thursday. The decision comes after a federal judge ruled Oregon Ballot Measure 119 unconstitutional earlier in May. 'Earlier this month, a federal judge issued a ruling barring the enforcement of Ballot Measure 119. Given this ruling and in consultation with the Oregon Department of Justice, the OLCC will no longer require labor peace agreements as part of cannabis license applications and license renewals,' the OLCC said in a press release Thursday. Portland has the worst housing crisis outlook, LendingTree finds Measure 119, also known as the United for Cannabis Workers Act, was passed by Oregon voters in November 2024 and took effect in December of that year. The measure required cannabis retailers and processors to remain neutral in their communications to employees from labor organizations about bargaining rights. After Measure 119 passed, the OLCC adopted the labor peace agreement requirement in order to comply with the ballot measure, which required cannabis processors, retailers, and labs to provide labor peace agreements with a bona fide labor organization in order to obtain or renew cannabis licenses. The measure was challenged in a lawsuit filed in February by two Portland cannabis businesses, arguing the measure violates the First Amendment and will harm cannabis companies. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now United States District Judge Michael H. Simon in Portland agreed with the cannabis companies, ruling Measure 119 is 'preempted by the (National Labor Relations Act)' and violates the First Amendment. 'Measure 119 is not limited to restricting only threatening, coercive, false, or misleading speech, but instead prohibits all speech by employers that is not 'neutral' toward unionization. Therefore, Measure 119 violates Plaintiffs' First Amendment rights to free speech,' Judge Simon wrote, in part. In response to Judge Simon's ruling, the plaintiff's attorneys with Fisher Phillips LLP told KOIN 6, 'We are pleased with Judge Simon's ruling. Judge Simon reached the right conclusion on this important case of first impression regarding National Labor Relations Act preemption and Constitutional First Amendment speech protections as related to laws requiring businesses to enter into labor peace agreements.' Armed man who threatened Papa Murphy's employees was pepper-sprayed multiple times, police say The plaintiffs' attorneys continued, 'This case is poised to have far-reaching impacts, as many states are considering imposing similar requirements not only on cannabis licensees, but also in other sectors, and this decision helps maintain the proper balance between labor and management and allows cannabis employees to decide for themselves whether to organize without undue influence.' Governor Kotek's office added that the governor — who was named among defendants in the lawsuit — 'respects the court's ruling.' Meanwhile, a spokesperson for UFCW 555, a labor organization that has been a strong proponent of Measure 119, told KOIN 6 News 'We now have conflicting federal rulings, with a judge in Oregon putting Measure 119 on hold while a California judge has upheld a similar law. One of these rulings is destined to be overturned on appeal. Our strong suspicion is that Judge Simon's opinion, which flaunts Supreme Court precedent, will be the one reversed.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
