PITTSBURGH, May 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- An administrative
law judge ordered a new union vote at a Kumho Tire factory in
Macon, Ga., after finding that
company officials violated workers' rights during the first
election in October 2017.
The first vote resulted in a narrow loss for the workers, who
were seeking to join the United Steelworkers (USW) union. Following
that vote, the USW filed complaints with the National Labor
Relations Board accusing the company of illegal conduct in its
effort to suppress the union.
In his ruling, Administrative Law Judge Arthur J. Amchan wrote that the company's
illegal conduct was "pervasive" and that it warranted not only a
new election, but the "extraordinary" remedy of requiring company
officials to read a notice to all of its employees outlining the
specific ways in which they violated the workers' rights.
Kumho's violations, Amchan said, included illegally
interrogating employees, threatening to fire union supporters,
threatening plant closure, and creating an impression of
surveillance, among other threats to workers.
"This ruling is a major victory, not just for the brave Kumho
Tire workers and not just for union members, but for all workers
who want to improve their lives through organizing," said
Daniel Flippo, director of the USW's
District 9, which includes Georgia
and six other southern states, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands. "The USW is committed to
fighting for all workers' rights."
The USW recently used the Kumho election as a case study during
a meeting with members of the Congressional Blue Collar Caucus in
advocating for passage of the PRO Act (H.R. 2474), a labor law
reform bill that would increase protections for workers who engage
in union organizing and other collective action in their
workplaces, and also would increase penalties on employers who
violate workers' rights.
The USW has been working with the AFL-CIO and other unions to
build support for the bill.
"Workers are routinely threatened with plant closure, job
displacement, or economic harm," USW International President
Leo W. Gerard wrote in a letter in
support of the legislation. "Now is the time for Congress to act
and provide millions of America's workers the tools they need to
secure a better future for themselves and their families."
The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that
include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the
service and public sectors.
For more
information: www.usw.org.
CONTACT:
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R.J. Hufnagel: (412)
562-2450
|
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rhufnagel@usw.org
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SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)