WASHINGTON, DC—Since last year, the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest federation of unions, has been embroiled in a contract dispute with the union representing its employees working inside the AFL-CIO’s headquarters in Washington, DC—even to the point of implementing its final offer on its unionized workforce.
Over the past year, there have been several protests outside the AFL-CIO’s headquarters, as well as two unfair labor practice charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the AFL-CIO.
Here are the charges:
On October 9, 2018, OPEIU, Local 2 filed its first Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) with the NLRB against the AFL-CIO, which stated:
“On October 8, 2018, and within six months of the filing of this charge Employer, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, by and through its supervisors and agents, (a) unilaterally changed wages, hours and terms and conditions of the bargaining unit without reaching a good faith impasse in negotiations with the recognized exclusive representative, OPEIU Local 2; (b) imposed terms seeking unlimited managerial discretion over workforce numbers, hours and days of operations; and (c) unilaterally reduced wages of bargaining unit employees.
Charging Party OPEIU Local 2 requests that the Regional Director seek a temporary injunction pursuant to Section I O(j) of the Act to enjoin such Employer unfair labor practices pending final decision by the National Labor Relations Board.”
On March 6, the OPEIU, Local 2 filed its second Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the NLRB, which states:
“Within six months of the filing and service of this charge, Employer, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, by and through its supervisors and agents: (a) unilaterally changed terms and conditions of the bargaining unit driver and other unit employees without notice and bargaining with OPEIU Local 2; (b) discriminated in the assignment of work because OPEIU Local 2 bargaining unit members exercised their rights under Section 7 of the Act; (c) imposed terms seeking unlimited managerial discretion over workforce numbers, hours and days of operations without a good-faith impasse in negotiations; and ( d) since September 11, 2018, failed and refused to provide relevant collective bargaining information requested by OPElU Local 2.”
ULP Charge Against AFL-CIO on Scribd
“OPEIU Local 2 and the AFL-CIO have been in contract negotiations since May 23, 2018,” according to OPEIU, Local 2.
The sticking point? According to the OPEIU, “the AFL-CIO insists on placing furloughs under Management’s Rights.”
The AFL-CIO also wants to be able to implement furloughs at any time, on any bargaining unit member, for any duration, without (1) providing justification, (2) shared sacrifice, or (3) a drop-dead date (i.e. in perpetuity). We believe that agreeing to the above furlough terms will not only hurt us but every union member whose employer looks to the AFL-CIO to set the standard in contracts.
Since we will not agree to the above terms, the AFL-CIO illegally imposed its contract (see October 9, 2018) and began retaliating against union members (see March 6, 2019).
We will continue to encourage the AFL-CIO to practices what it preaches.
Related:
- Watch Union Members March On The ‘Anti-Union’ AFL-CIO
- How ‘Union-Busting’ Union Bosses Are Exploiting Their Own Employees
