Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Local 24 Reports: National Labor Relations Board...

Business and City Editors

SOUTHFIELD, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 3, 2001

News from the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) Union Local 24:

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint against Wabeek Country Club, a private golf and dining

The NLRB is a federal government agency, with a regional office in Detroit. The complaint was mailed by the NLRB late last week and was received today.

The complaint charges that Wabeek has been "interfering with, restraining, and coercing" employees and "discriminating" against employees in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

The complaint also charges that Wabeek has been "failing and refusing to bargain ... in good faith" with the employees' union, represents dining room and kitchen employees at Wabeek. Wabeek's failure to bargain in good faith also is charged as a violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

The complaint names Wabeek General Manager Tom Conroy and charges, among other things, that Conroy unlawfully interfered with, threatened, and disciplined a union steward.

Wabeek has a history with the NLRB. In 1990, a federal Administrative Law Judge ruled that Wabeek violated multiple provisions of the National Labor Relations Act by, among other things, engaging in discrimination and retaliation against a union steward. The Judge found that Wabeek displayed "unremitted hostility" toward the steward because she engaged in legally-protected activity and cooperated with the NLRB. The NLRB affirmed the Judge's decision in 1991.

Charges that led to the recent investigation of Wabeek by the National Labor Relation Board were filed by Local 24 in March, April and May 2001. The complaint is the result of the NLRB investigation.

In addition to the unfair labor practice charges filed by Local 24, individual Wabeek employees have filed civil rights charges against Wabeek alleging race and sex discrimination and retaliation.

"We are gratified that the federal government is taking action to protect Club employees against discriminatory and unfair treatment," said Carol Bronson, Local 24 Business Representative. "The employees work very hard for the Country Club and its members. In return, they deserve respect and fair treatment."