 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Unions 10
TIMELINE FOR WESTON'S INTERBAKE IN FRONT ROYAL, VA
March 2005: George Weston subsidiary, Interbake Foods announces its intention to build a new plant in Front Royal, Virginia. Governor Mark Warner approves a $500,000 performance-based grant for Interbake.
March 2005: Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board announces Interbake will receive $300,000 in development access funding.
September 2005: Newly-hired Interbake employees contact BCTGM Local 68 (Baltimore) for help in joining the BCTGM.
April 2006: Employees begin signing BCTGM union authorization cards. An overwhelming majority of employees sign authorization cards signifying their desire to join the BCTGM.
May 2006: Interbake management becomes aware of organizing drive; BCTGM files unfair labor practice charges (ULP's) with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Interbake for interfering with employee's right to form and join a union.
June 2006: NLRB Region 5 begins investigating ULP's against Interbake.
July 2006: NLRB Region 5 consolidates the numerous charges and prepares to issue and official Complaint (indictment) against Interbake and schedule a federal trial.
September 2006: BCTGM Local 68 asks Interbake to recognize the union as the official representative of the Front Royal workers after a large majority signs union authorization cards. Interbake/Weston refuses. Local 68 files a petition with the NLRB to conduct an election, which is scheduled for October 26, 2006.
October 20, 2006: Local 68 files an additional 8 ULP's against Interbake for continued violations of federal labor law leading up to the election.
October 24, 2006: The NLRB blocks the scheduled election in order to investigate the additional charges against Interbake.
February 26, 2007: The NLRB issues a Federal Complaint and orders a federal trial in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) scheduled for March 26, 2007.
March 2007: Weston corporate management meet with BCTGM International Officers and Local 68 representatives to negotiate an informal settlement agreement that would allow an independent Arbitrator to conduct an election, rather than the NLRB.
April 12, 2007: Interbake employees vote against joining the BCTGM; many employees who had been pro-BCTGM say they will give the company one more chance.
May-December 2007: Interbake employees continue to work with Local 68; workers who had voted against the union in April now offer full support to BCTGM.
January 2008: Interbake employees begin signing union authorization cards signifying their willingness to join the BCTGM.
January 2008: Weston corporate management hires a well known union-busting law firm and begins illegal anti-union campaign at the Front Royal facility. Local 68 files additional ULP's with NLRB.
January 17, 2008: Philip Underwood, a union supporter, is fired.
January 23, 2008: Connie Nelson, a union supporter, is fired.
February 14, 2008: Christina Duval, a union supporter, is fired.
February 27, 2008: Milo Malcomb, a union supporter, is fired.
February 27, 2008: Clyde Stovall, a union supporter, is fired.
March 12, 2008: With an overwhelming majority of union cards signed, BCTGM Local 68 asks Weston to recognize them as the official bargaining representative of the Front Royal employees. Weston refuses and the NLRB schedules an election for April 16, 2008.
March 14, 2008: BCTGM files more than a dozen ULP's against Interbake which continues to violate federal labor law by coercing employees to vote against unionization, by terminating union supporters, and by putting union supporters under surveillance.
March 14, 2008: John Robinson, a union supporter, is fired.
April 16, 2008: NLRB does not issue official election results; the Board must wait to determine if the five challenged ballots (cast by terminated employees) should count.
April 21, 2008: BCTGM files additional ULP's and "Objections to the Election" due to management's illegal anti-union campaign.
July 31, 2008: After a three month rigorous investigation by NLRB Federal investigators, the NLRB issues a scathing Complaint (indictment) against Weston-Interbake management and their agents (managers, lawyers). A federal trial in front of an Administrative Law Judge is scheduled for October 27, 2008.
Unions 101