The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has worked out a settlement agreement for Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges filed by the IAM against Strategic Resources, Inc. (SRI). SRI is a Service Contract Act employer at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. The settlement allows SRI to avoid a trial on more than a dozen violations of Federal labor laws for its conduct against two groups of employees who voted for IAM representation.
The thirty-five SRI employees involved are in two separate units working under Service Contracts at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. One group of workers are Victim Advocates – the first line of outreach for domestic violence for soldiers and their families; the other group is a transport unit that is responsible for transporting troops and equipment for training and deployment.
The charges were for SRI actions such as refusing to bargain over unilateral changes, harassment, failure to provide required information, and adjustments to benefits and pay structures. SRI must make up any shortages to each employee, and is under an NLRB order to bargain with the IAM. The agreement also allows the NLRB to move the complaint to District Court if SRI violates the conditions of the settlement.
After a long investigation, the NLRB ruled that SRI has indeed violated federal labor laws. The NLRB notified SRI of their findings and sent them a listing of the remedies required to avoid the trial which became the basis for negotiations over the settlement conditions.
“This is a good day for these workers. The settlement allows the company to avoid a formal guilty verdict in a trial, but provides remedies to the workers for the abuses they endured,” said GLR Kevin Cummings, who heads the negotiations and filed the charges. “I look forward to negotiations with SRI to achieve a fair contract without the illegal tactics that has been their trademark so far. These workers deserve better than they have received. We are determined to get them the respect and justice they have earned by their service.”
“Let this serve as an example for all employers who exploit their workforce that we will ensure workers are treated with dignity by their employer,” said Western Territory General Vice President Gary Allen. “Congratulations to our members at SRI. I look forward to working with all of you in the future.”
