Compass Minerals Louisiana, Inc. Agrees to Pay Over $7.33 Million in Back Pay and Lost Benefits

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has approved a settlement agreement between Compass Minerals Louisiana, Inc., formerly known as Carey Salt Company, a subsidiary of Compass Minerals International, Inc. (the Employer), and the United Steelworkers Union (USW). Under the agreement, 299 current and former employees of the Cote Blanche, Louisiana facility will receive a total of $7,330,213.81 as compensation for back pay and benefit reimbursement pursuant to charges filed with the NLRB.
The NLRB’s Region 15 Office in New Orleans first issued a complaint in the matter on December 30, 2010, alleging that the Employer had violated the National Labor Relations Act by engaging in unlawful actions during the collective bargaining process, resulting in workers striking in protest from April 7, 2010 to June 15, 2010.
On September 12, 2012, the NLRB issued a Decision and Order in the case, holding that the Employer had violated the National Labor Relations Act by failing to bargain in good faith, failing to reinstate employees who engaged in the unfair labor practice strike, engaging in unlawful threats, and making unilateral changes to work schedules and pay increases.
After a judgment enforcing the order was issued on November 21, 2013 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the parties resolved all outstanding issues leading to a settlement agreement, which the NLRB approved on March 2, 2017.