Region 25-Indianapolis Secures Settlement of over $450,000 for Workers

On November 22, 2024, Region 25-Indianapolis secured an agreement settling a complaint against Performance Mechanical Contracting, Inc., an HVAC service and maintenance company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. This settles a complaint based on four unfair labor practice charges filed by Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local Union No. 20.

The complaint alleged that the employer unlawfully refused to hire or consider for hire eight applicants and fired two employees because they engaged in union activities, interrogated employees, and promulgated an unlawful rule. In the settlement, the employer agreed to cease and desist from unlawful conduct and post, read, and email a notice of employee rights. The employer also agreed to pay $459,758 in backpay and direct or foreseeable pecuniary harm to the affected workers and send a letter of apology to the fired workers.

“It is unlawful for an employer to refuse to hire applicants—or fire workers—because of their support for a union,” said Region 25 Regional Director Patricia Nachand. “I’m proud of Region 25 staff for securing this strong settlement that makes whole the victims of the unfair labor practices.”

Established in 1935, the National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency that protects employees, employers, and unions from unfair labor practices and protects the right of private sector employees to join together, with or without a union, to improve wages, benefits and working conditions. The NLRB conducts hundreds of workplace elections and investigates thousands of unfair labor practice charges each year. Region 25 serves areas in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Kentucky from its Regional Office in Indianapolis and its Subregional Office in Peoria.