Strike continues; owner claims workers were fired (this is NLRB actionable! UPDATED!)

[Omaha Steve]

UPDATE with this earlier story too: Talks continue as Maid in America seeks to end work stoppage: http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20150521-employees-strike.ece



Al Key/DRC
Employees protest Thursday in front of the Maid in America office on Carroll Boulevard in Denton.

By Bj Lewis Staff Writer [e-mail]
Published: 21 May 2015 11:18 PM

Talks continue between employees and management from Maid in America to end a work stoppage for the local cleaning company.

Thursday morning, employees of the cleaning service stood in the dreary weather outside the company’s office on Carroll Boulevard.
They waved signs calling for better wages and treatment by management, who were said to be caught off guard by the strike.

“I would say they seemed startled and kind of defensive about it, but we knew what to expect,” said Clinton McBride, a four-month employee and the strike’s organizer.

“We’re certainly trying to work with them to resolve any issues, and we are willing to do that,” Maid in America co-owner Neal Locke said.

FULL story at link.


Look for a complaint to be filed with the NLRB. Striking is a protected activity regardless of a formal union in the workplace.


http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20150522-strike-continues-owner-claims-workers-were-fired.ece

By Bj Lewis Staff Writer [e-mail]
Published: 22 May 2015 10:24 PM

Work will continue for Maid in America, only not with employees who went on strike Thursday morning.

Neal and Kathryn Locke, co-owners of the Denton cleaning service since 1995, said they will let the issue die down and move on.

“We are non-union, so they don’t really have any right to strike,” Neal Locke said Friday afternoon. “So, we are considering they are no-shows for work, [and] we are moving forward servicing all our customers.”

Locke confirmed employees who did not show up for work would be terminated.

FULL story at link.

[yallerdawg]

1. Interesting case.

How will NLRB react?

[Omaha Steve]

2. First somebody has to complain

The regional office will investigate. This case is simple enough for the regional office to find merit. From there to a judge to rule on. I'm sure the judge will rule for the workers.

Then onto the NLRB if the company keeps appealing. I doubt the company has a lot of $ to fight the NLRB because it is a smaller company.

It is hard to predict the action because of the variables. Ultimately the NLRB could issue an order to reinstate with back pay for all the fired workers. They would deduct any wages the workers made from other jobs while the process drags on if the company appeals and fight this.

OS