Latham, Newyork

In March 2013, employees of S.W. Pitts Hose Company of Latham, N.Y., Inc. (Employer) voted to be represented by Local 4924, Colonie Professional Firefighters Association, International Association of Firefighters (Union).Over the course of the next several months, the Employer actively refused to bargain in good faith, illegally and unilaterally changed terms and conditions of employment, unlawfully fired two employees for Union involvement, and restricted employees’ rights. 

Over the course of the next several months, the Employer engaged in surface bargaining with no intention of reaching an agreement by insisting upon proposals that were predictably unacceptable to the Union and that would leave employees with fewer rights and protections. The Employer also insisted that the Union agree to a no-strike clause. 

Further, it unilaterally changed attendance policies, reduced employee wages, increased contributions for health insurance, and reduced employee work hours. On April 30, 2014, the Board directed the Buffalo Regional Office to seek a cease and desist order from a district court judge requiring the Employer to immediately bargain in good faith with the Union. 

On June 20, 2014, the district court judge granted the requested injunctive relief, which included an order requiring the Employer to bargain in good faith with the Union, to rescind the unilateral changes at the Union’s request, to rescind the disciplines, to rescind aspects of the proposal containing unlawful restrictions on Section 7 rights, and to post and read the district court’s order.