Car Dealer Violated NLRA by Scrapping Mechanics Union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bna.com/car-dealer-violated-n17179934345/

By Kevin McGowan

Aug. 4 — An Illinois car dealer violated the National Labor Relations Act by failing to engage in effects bargaining and withdrawing recognition of a union representing six mechanics when it closed the dealership where the mechanics worked and moved them to a nonunion facility, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Aug. 4.


Enforcing a National Labor Relations Board decision, the court rejected Burke Automotive Group Inc.'s argument that once the six mechanics in the union-represented unit at Dodge of Naperville were combined with a larger group of nonunion mechanics at Naperville Jeep Dodge in Lisle, Ill., it no longer had to recognize International Association of Machinists Local 701 as the six mechanics' bargaining representative.


Instead, the court said the NLRB properly found Burke Automotive failed to establish the “compelling circumstances” that would justify disregarding the historic Naperville unit of mechanics. The court emphasized that Burke failed to engage in any bargaining with the union over the effects of the Naperville shutdown and relocation of the mechanics to the Lisle dealership, where the 14 nonunion mechanics received considerably lower wages and benefits.


The court's decision “is limited to these particular facts,” the D.C. Circuit said.

FULL story at link.

[MindPilot]

1. There's a "mechanic's union"?!

I worked as a dealer tech for the better part of 20 years. I had no idea there was a union; I would have joined in a heartbeat. Are they really small and local?