Region 32 – Oakland Wins Administrative Law Judge Decision Finding AAA of Northern California, Nevada & Utah Unlawfully Fired Five Workers and Made Multiple Illegal Rule Changes Because They Organized for Union Representation

An Administrative Law Judge has found that the American Automobile Association of Northern California, Nevada and Utah committed numerous violations of federal labor law, including unlawfully firing five employees because they engaged in union activity, and making sweeping, unlawful changes to working conditions without bargaining.

The judge ordered the company to reinstate Insurance Agents Priscilla Gaines-Holladay, Patrick Stallone, Frank Dollosso, Jason Ortiz, and Yasmin Weston with full make-whole relief, including backpay with interest and compensation for search-for-work expenses.

The decision also found that AAA illegally tightened and selectively enforced workplace rules after learning of employees’ organizing efforts—affecting PTO, flexible hours, work-from-home, counter duty, and other core terms of employment—and unlawfully eliminated unit employees’ longstanding eligibility for Circle of Excellence awards.

“This decision makes clear that employers cannot respond to organizing by retaliating against workers or unilaterally changing working conditions,” the judge wrote. “The Respondent’s conduct interfered with employees’ rights under the Act.”

AAA is required to rescind unlawful rules, restore prior working conditions, compensate affected employees, and post a notice informing workers of their rights. The full decision is available at www.nlrb.gov/case/32-CA-280838.

Other pending related unfair labor practice cases against AAA related to this bargaining unit of insurance agents is also available on www.nlrb.gov.

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 32 serves areas in California and Nevada from its Regional Office in Oakland.