Featured on Employment Law This Week: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) finds the hiring of permanent replacements for strikers to be an unfair labor practice.
In a 2-1 decision that could benefit unions during contract negotiations, the NLRB found that a continuing care facility in California violated federal labor law when it hired permanent replacements after a series of intermittent strikes. While the NLRB and courts have long held that an employer’s motivation for hiring permanent replacements is irrelevant, in this case, the board held that if the hiring is motivated by an intent to discourage future strikes, it interferes with employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The employer in this case will likely seek judicial review. However, in the meantime, the decision adds new risks for employers that may wish to hire permanent striker replacements.
View the episode below or read more about this story in a previous blog post, written by frequent contributor Steven M. Swirsky.