Class 2 outlines

Strikes, striker rights, lockouts

The right to strike: 29 USC § 142(2), § 163
- BLS: Small number of industries involved in largest strikes (6 Oct 00)
  - Days of idleness due to major work stoppages up in 2006 (8 Mar 07)
  - More workers idled by work stoppages in 2007 (14 Feb 08)
  - Duration of work stoppages beginning in 2007 (25 Feb 08)
  - Major work stoppages in 2008 (11 Feb 09)

Economic v. ULP (unfair labor practice) strikes

Basic NLRB definitions
Recall v. reinstatement rights
- NLRB v. Mackay, 304 U.S. 333 (1938)
- Cesar Chavez Workplace Fairness Act: HR 5 (1993)
- Prevent economic strikers’ permanent replacement
  - S 3258 (2000), HR 2320/S 1107 (2001)
- WA example: Alaska Air (1993)
Conversion of economic to ULP strike

WA: “Oak Harbor Teamsters” strike (2008-09) new

“Teamsters strike at Auburn trucking company” The Seattle Times (22 Sept 08)
“Teamsters picket Auburn-based Oak Harbor Freight” The Seattle Times (23 Sept 08)
“Strike at trucking company near 7th week and counting” Seattle Post-Intelligencer (30 Oct 08)
“Oak Harbor Teamsters still picketing” The Wenatchee World (10 Nov 08)

Loss of recall or reinstatement rights
- Permanent employment elsewhere
- Employer ceases operations
- Strike misconduct
No discrimination against strikers
- No “super” seniority for “crossover” replacements, but ...
  - NLRB v. Erie Resistor, 373 U.S. 221 (1963)
- Crossovers need not be replaced by senior full-term strikers
  - Railway Labor Act: TWA v. IFFA, 489 U.S. 426 (1989)
No right to pay while on strike
- No food stamps: Lyng v. UAW, 485 U.S. 360 (1988)
- Back pay for unlawfully-discharged ULP strikers
- WA unemployment comp: SB 5569 (1999) [ report]
Strike settlement agreements
- Recall rights
  
  “Newspaper workers say
  Seattle Times breaking agreement”
  Seattle Post-Intelligencer (12 Mar 01)

Sympathy strikers

Protected status

WA: Operating engineers strike (2006)

“Strike hits concrete and gravel suppliers”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (3 Aug 06)

“Construction sites in county fall silent”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (4 Aug 06)

“Concrete workers accept new contracts”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (26 Aug 06)

“Contractors group fears another strike”
Puget Sound Business Journal (2 May 07)

WA: Sprinkler fitters strike (2008)

“Strike shuts down major construction”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2 July 08)

“Sprinkler fitters’ strike ends with contract approval”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (11 July 08)

Concerted activity
Refusal to handle struck work

No-strike clauses: contractual restrictions on right to strike
- Scope of obligation: exchanged for contractual arbitration clause
  - Art VII § 1 Step 4
- Injunction criteria
  - Boys Markets v. Retail Clerks, 398 U.S. 235 (1970)
- Implied clause enforcement
  - Gateway Coal v. UMW, 414 U.S. 368 (1974)
Exceptions to no-strike clauses
- Sympathy strikes: SQ 1; Art X § 1?
  - Unless waiver is “clear and unmistakable”
    - Metropolitan Edison v. NLRB, 460 U.S. 693 (1983)
    - CHMC v. CNA, 283 F.3d 1188 (9th Cir. 2002)
  - Boys Markets injunction precluded
    - Buffalo Forge v. Steelworkers, 428 U.S. 397 (1976)
- ULP strikes: Mastro v. NLRB, 350 U.S. 270 (1956)
- Safety dispute strikes: 29 USC § 143; Gateway; Art XVI

Lockouts: SQ 2

Offensive v. defensive
- American Ship v. NLRB, 380 U.S. 300 (1965)
Replacement of locked-out employees

WA: Lockheed Shipbuilding 1987

Unemployment comp for offensive: RCW 50.20.090 (L 87, 88)

Kaiser Aluminum (1999-2000); .pdf

ESB 6368 (2000) [ .pdf

report]

“Workers rally to end legislative blockade”
The Seattle Times (21 Mar 00)

Editorial: “30 weeks is enough”
The Seattle Times (21 Mar 00)

“Long Kaiser dispute ends”
The Seattle Times (19 Sept 00)

“Workers returning to Kaiser”
The Seattle Times (7 Oct 00)

“Kaiser will shut down aluminum production”
The Seattle Times (11 Dec 00)

“Aluminum giant files for bankruptcy,
but state already feels Kaiser’s pain”
The Seattle Times (13 Feb 02)

RCW 49.44.100 (L 61, 03) preempted by 29 USC ch 7
- State v. Labor Ready, 103 Wn. App. 775 (2000)

Darigold (2003-04)

“Dairy workers locked out after labor talks fail”
The Seattle Times (1 Sept 03)

“Lockout on Labor Day just a part of workers’ struggles”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2 Sept 03)

“Darigold-maker WestFarm, workers settle dispute”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (27 May 04)

“WestFarm calling back employees
after dairy workers OK pact”
The Seattle Times (28 May 04)

Unemployment comp for defensive? SB 6327 (2008) [ report]

Picketing and related activity

Introduction
Primary v. secondary distinction
- Traditional primary picketing
- Primary object with a secondary effect
- NLRB v. Rice Milling, 341 U.S. 665 (1951)
Secondary boycotts prohibited: 29 USC § 158(b)(4)(B)
- Local 32 prevails at SeaTac Ramada: NLRB reversed by USCA
  - UA Local 32 v. NLRB, 912 F.2d 1108 (9th Cir. 1990)
- “Common situs” picketing: separate employers; SQ 3
  - NLRB v. Denver Bldg. Council, 341 U.S. 675 (1951) (326)
  - Moore Dry Dock, 92 NLRB 547 (1950) criteria (327)
  - Reserved gates: primary and neutral
    - Sign language: pickets (329-32), gates (338-39)
    - Sample site plan
    - Dual gates at MOM Hall
- Secondary employer at primary situs: SQ 4
  - Elec. Workers v. NLRB, 366 U.S. 667 (1961) criteria (335)
- Handbilling allowed
  - DeBartolo v. Fla. Gulf Coast, 485 U.S. 568 (1988)
Jurisdictional disputes: 29 USC § 158(b)(4)(D)
- Six major sources (370-71)
- JA Jones, 135 NLRB 1402 (1962) criteria (378)
- NLRB’s role: 29 USC § 160(k)
  - NLRB v. IBEW, 364 U.S. 573 (1961)
  - NLRB v. Plasterers, 404 U.S. 116 (1971)
- Example: Super Excavators, 338 NLRB 50 (2002)
- Settlement procedure: Art VIII
Organizational and recognitional picketing: 29 USC § 158(b)(7)

“Picketing slows work on Bellevue Towers”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (26 Mar 08)
- Informational, “area standards” picketing permitted: sub¶ (C); SQ 5
- Limited picketing over a prehire agreement lawful after Deklewa
  - NVE v. NLRB, 934 F.2d 1084 (9th Cir. 1991)

Remedies for unlawful strikes and picketing

Monetary damage suits for unlawful strikes: 29 USC § 187(a)
- Recover from union: 29 USC § 185(b)
- Compensatory v. punitive damages: 29 USC § 187(b)
- BE&K v. Trades Council, 156 F.3d 756 (7th Cir. 1998)
Private injunction suits for strikes over arbitrable issues
- Background/history/policy: 29 USC ch 6
- Boys Markets injunction
- Preliminary injunction: 29 USC § 107
  - San Antonio v. Carpenters, 125 F.3d 1230 (9th Cir. 1997)
ULP complaints
- NLRB procedures: 29 USC § 160
- NLRB temporary injunctions: 29 CFR § 101.37

Responding to violence, mass picketing, trespassing

Hobbs Act (18 USC § 1951): US v. Enmons, 410 U.S. 396 (1973)

Altemose Construction in Pennsylvania

Altemose v. BCTC, 751 F.2d 653 (3d Cir. 1985)

“J. Leon Altemose, involved in landmark buildings and landmark case, dies” Philadelphia Business Journal (15 Apr 08)
“ABC mourns the passing of Leon Altemose” Associated Builders and Contractors (16 Apr 08)
“J. Leon Altemose, controversial contractor, dies at 68” The Philadelphia Inquirer (16 Apr 08)

BE&K for Boise Cascade in Minnesota
Freedom from Union Violence Act
- S 764 (1999), S 902 (2001), HR 5581 (2002), HR 1870/S 2159 (2003), HR 239/S 618 (2005), HR 919 (2007)
  
  “Freedom from union violence”
  Cato Institute (9 Sept 98)

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO): 18 USC ch 96
- Yellow Bus v. Drivers, 913 F.2d 948 (D.C. Cir. 1990)
Contempt
- Drywall Tapers v. Plasterers, 889 F.2d 389 (2d Cir. 1989)

“Strike shuts down major construction” Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2 July 08)
“Sprinkler fitters’ strike ends with contract approval” Seattle Post-Intelligencer (11 July 08)