Federal board (NLRB) allows contact by company

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/279463.html

Posted on Mon, Sep. 17, 2007 10:15 PM

By RANDOLPH HEASTER

Direct communication between a company and its union employees can be a touchy subject, especially during contract talks. A local union charged one St. Joseph employer with violating labor laws related to that, but the company was ultimately exonerated.

The National Labor Relations Board in Washington last month reversed a previous ruling and dismissed a complaint against Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., an animal health company.

The charge was brought in 2004 by United Food and Commercial Workers District Union Local 2 of Kansas City, which represented about 150 employees at the St. Joseph business.

According to the ruling, talks ended between Boehringer and union representatives without a contract on Nov. 12, 2004. A company official declined the union’s request to extend the existing contract and continue negotiations.

A Boehringer executive called the situation a strike, while union officials said the company was engaging in a lockout.

The company sought a written assurance from the union there would be no strike, or in the alternative, have employees who wished to work individually sign their own no-strike pledges. The union declined both options, reiterating its wish to extend the old agreement.

When employees reported for work the next day, they all were sent home after declining to individually sign the no-strike forms.

FULL story at link.