Wednesday, November 21, 2012

NLRB Upheld That Palermo Villa Inc. Violated Federal Labor Laws

Palermo Villa Inc. must rehire a significant number of striking employees who are Hispanic and pay back wages, the National Labor Relations Board decided.

By H. Nelson Goodson
November 21, 2012

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, the regional National Larbor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that Palermo Villa Inc. violated federal labor laws when it fired nine of 84 employees after going on strike concerning wages, safety work related concerns and trying to form a union at Palermo Pizza. The NLRB ordered Palermo Villa Inc. to rehire a significant number of striking employees that were terminated back in June and to pay back wages, according to Voces de la Frontera (VDLF).
VDLF confirmed on Wednesday at a news conference that it will appeal the NLRB decision with the Washington, D.C. office due to the lack of issuing a wrongful labor complaint against Palermo Pizza by the regional NLRB office. Palermo representatives said, they will rehire nine employees who crossed the picket line, but won't rehire 75 others. VDLF confirmed it will continue the fight to get all the employees rehired.
NLRB regional director, Irving Gottschalk determined that Palermo Villa engaged in "retaliation" by threatening to terminate multiple employees who crossed the picket line to join the strike. At least nine employees were fired when they joined 75 other striking employees. Palermo violated federal labor laws by threatening to fire employees for joining a strike and Gottschalk ordered Palermo to reinstate those workers with back pay.
Nine of the 84 striking employees who were fired will return to work and back wages dating back to early June will be paid. The NLRB decision clears the way for establishing and recognizing an employee union, thus possibly ending a seven month old strike and national boycott of Palermo Pizza products. But, VDLF is expected to continue the fight to get the rest of the former employees rehired and the boycott could linger longer.

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