Powerful union accused of union busting

Staff working for 32BJ SEIU are officially accusing the labor giant of engaging in the kind of union-busting tactics that it usually fights against.

Despite working for a union themselves, and helping to organize others’ workplaces, staff at 32BJ are not currently unionized. Last year, 32BJ employees launched a unionization effort in the hopes of winning the kinds of labor protections that 32BJ provides to its own members.

The organizing is off to something of a rocky start. The staff union, which is affiliated with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, previously asked that leadership of 32BJ – a politically powerful union that represents more than 175,000 workers, mostly in the building services industry – remain neutral during the union effort. But the staff union says that 32BJ leadership has tried to interfere with the union drive.

 “As union staffers, we know what union-busting looks like. And we know that it’s against the law,” the staff union said in a statement to City & State. “We have made a formal request of management to remain neutral and have asked to meet with leadership regarding a neutrality agreement, but they have not even responded to these requests.”

On Feb. 26, the staff union filed an unfair labor practices complaint – known as a ULP – with the National Labor Relations Board on Feb. 26, alleging that 32BJ leadership had violated federal labor law by interfering with unionization efforts. The ULP references five specific charges under the law: Discharge (including layoffs), changes in terms of employment, interrogation, denial of access and coercive statements. The staff union provided additional details on its social media into what the allegations entailed. Perhaps most troublingly, organizers say that 32BJ retaliated against staff who engaged in union activities. But other accusations include asking staff to sign an anti-union petition, removing union materials from places they could legally be displayed and “coercively” asking about union activities. 

Organizers previously told City & State about some of the alleged union busting practices like the anti-union petition and managers discouraging staff from participating in union activities. But the ULP represents an escalation by officially asking the National Labor Relations Board to investigate the behavior. If found guilty, 32BJ could be subject to a number of possible legal consequences such as fines or issuance of backpay.

A spokesperson for 32BJ did not return a request for comment.