Region 9 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Cincinnati has notified the USW that absent a settlement, the board will issue a complaint against A.P. Green, a subsidiary of HarbisonWalker International, for regressive bargaining and illegally locking out the members of Local 2324-5 at the company’s Oak Hill, Ohio refractory plant.
Unless the company negotiates a settlement with the NLRB to resolve the unfair labor practice charges, the NLRB will prosecute A.P. Green before an administrative law judge.
The company would then face back pay liability to all workers for the time period the NLRB determines they were illegally locked out.
Although the lockout started on April 15, 2015, the NLRB has decided that the company’s regressive bargaining began on May 14, making the lockout illegal from that point forward.
The USW will continue to push the process toward a resolution with both the company and the NLRB and has appealed the region’s dismissal of an unfair labor practice charge alleging that the company failed to provide requested relevant information. The region has already found that the company committed an unfair labor practice when it unlawfully created the impression of surveillance.
The past eight months have been long and difficult, but we should have faith that our unity and solidarity will be rewarded when this process concludes.
We will share more information when it becomes available and look forward to the challenges ahead.
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