The Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprise (more widely known as Foxwoods) and the UAW at Foxwoods have issued a joint press release moments ago that they have "reached a historic agreement to negotiate a union contract under Tribal Law, without either party waiving their rights under federal law." The agreement comes after the parties agreed earlier this… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: uaw
UAW/Foxwoods: As Media Reports Pick Up, Parties’ Silence Begins
Posted in LitigationLast Friday, I reported on a late-breaking agreement to discuss labor matters between the UAW and Foxwoods. Since that time, media reports have been wide with editorials discussing the matter as well. The Day has been leading the way with a few reports/editorials: In an editorial, The Day indicates that this discussion is a "critical… Continue Reading
BREAKING NEWS: UAW/Foxwoods Agree To Discussions…And May Apply Tribal Law
Posted in Class Actions, Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Labor Law & NRLBWhile most people are focusing on Connecticut’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriages, word leaked out late today that the UAW and Foxwoods agreed to enter into discussions for a possible labor agreement. (For background on the UAW/Foxwoods dispute, see prior blog coverage here.) The joint press release — issued at 4:30 EST — is brief but dramatic… Continue Reading
Foxwoods/UAW – The Predictable Story Continues with Response by Tribe
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationWhile a generic post today about sick leave might be more appropriate today given my absence for a few days, there are some actual updates in the labor and employment law arena that need telling. One such story is the ongoing saga in between the UAW and the Mashantucket Pequot Trial Nation, which runs the Foxwoods… Continue Reading
No Surprise: Foxwoods Declines to Bargain with UAW; Formal Appeal to Follow, Later This Summer
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationThis should come as a surprise to no one, particuarly given my prior posts, but Foxwoods Casino (properly known as the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation) today formally declined to bargain with the UAW over a contract for approximately 3000 table game dealers, setting up an appeal that will focus on sovereign immunity grounds. The Day first… Continue Reading
Update: Foxwoods Will Appeal NLRB Decision
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationYesterday, I reported that the NLRB had issued a decision certifying the election last fall of the UAW as the bargaining representative of the Foxwoods Casino Table Dealers. Since that last post, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has released a statement indicating that they will, in fact, appeal the decision. The Day has the details… Continue Reading
NLRB Certifies Election of Union to Represent Foxwoods Casino Dealers
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationLeave it to a government agency to release a long-awaited decision right before the July 4th holiday. Since it is a vacation week, this afternoon’s post will be brief. I’ll followup again when there is more to report, including press statements that are expected to be released on the subject. For those first looking for background… Continue Reading
UAW Withdraws Petition to Represent Slot Workers at Foxwoods
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationJust days after the UAW suffered a defeat in trying to organize off-track betting workers at Foxwoods, the UAW has decided to withdraw its petition to represent a group of about 80-120 slot technicians. The decision also came just hours before a hearing was to be held on the subject. The withdrawal allows the UAW… Continue Reading
Off-Track Betting Workers at Foxwoods Reject UAW’s Efforts to Represent Them
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationThe ongoing labor battles at Foxwoods took an interesting turn on Friday. For the second time in a month, a group of workers at Foxwoods rejected efforts by a union to represent them. This time, it was the off-track betting workers who decided that they did not want the United Auto Workers (UAW) to represent… Continue Reading
Legal Analysis of the Application of Employment Laws to Native American Reservations
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Labor Law & NRLB, Laws and Regulations, LitigationAmid all of the buzz regarding the union representation campaigns at Foxwoods, one argument keeps being floated about: tribal sovereignty. A new article by Thomas Meiklejohn — one of the attorneys representing the UAW in its battle to represent workers at Foxwoods — in Spring edition of the Labor & Employment Law Quarterly (not online)… Continue Reading
Rep. Courtney Speaks Out on the Employee Free Choice Act and the Foxwoods/UAW Election
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, Legislative DevelopmentsOne of the bills in Congress this year that is expected to be heavily debated is the Employee Free Choice Act. What is it? Workplace Horizons has this take on it: "The Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800; S. 1041) would amend the National Labor Relations Act to make it significantly easier for unions to… Continue Reading
UAW/Foxwoods – Hearing into Tribe’s Objections Drags On; Fight over Sovereignty Continues
Posted in LitigationThe NLRB’s hearing into Foxwoods’ objections to the union election continues this week. The latest issue to resurface is one that has surfaced before — tribal sovereignty. As I’ve said previously, I believe this is the type of "big picture" issue that may ultimately take this case up to the U.S. Supreme Court. Because the case may… Continue Reading
Are Unions Dying Off? Not Yet, Say New U.S. Department of Labor Statistics
Posted in Human Resources (HR) ComplianceAre unions are dying breed? The answer to that question often depends on your perspective. As we’ve seen in Connecticut, if unions are "dying", they are not going down without a fight. But statistics just released by the U.S. Department of Labor tell a more complete story. The statistics show a leveling off of the decline in… Continue Reading
Foxwoods/UAW – The Hearing Resumes With New Details About Alleged Harassment of Dealers
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationThe hearing by the NLRB into objections raised by Foxwoods resumed Wednesday with new details about alleged harassment experienced by dealers in the course of the election last fall. (For background on the objections and the elections, click here.) As usual, The Day is quick with the details this morning. According to the report, one… Continue Reading
Foxwoods/UAW – A Quick Update
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationNLRB Hearings are best left to those who have lots of patience and time, two things I’m missing this week. Thus, unless there are major developments that occur, I’ll only briefly recap where things stand, on occasion, on the ongoing Foxwoods/UAW saga. Yesterday, the NLRB (also called "The Board") denied Foxwoods’ Request for Review, which… Continue Reading
UAW/Foxwoods – The Hearing into Objections Begins and Tribe Files a Petition to Revoke
Posted in LitigationThe first day of the hearing into some of Foxwoods’ objections to the November election began on Tuesday. Among the arguments being raised by Foxwoods in this particular hearing is the argument that certain tactics taken by the union were unfair and the ballots improper because they were not in Chinese. The UAW has denied… Continue Reading
UAW/Foxwoods – Foxwoods Requests Review of Decision and Connecticut Objects
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationWhile the mainstream press has been reporting on the upcoming hearing tomorrow on some of Foxwoods’ objections to the election, Foxwoods has also been challenging the Regional Director’s decision on December 21, 2007 rejecting the other objections raised by Foxwoods. Thus, readers should be aware that reporting on the hearing tomorrow is only one front… Continue Reading
UAW/Foxwoods – Insight into the Tribe’s Sovereignty Argument at the NLRB
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationReaders of the blog will no doubt know that the battle for unionization at Foxwoods Resort Casino is one of the most significant labor issues in Connecticut in many years. A hearing on the tribe’s objections to the election of UAW is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Januay 15th, which I’ve discussed before. In advance… Continue Reading
UAW/Foxwoods – January 15th Hearing Scheduled on Objections to Election
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Labor Law & NRLBLast week, while many (including myself) were vacationing, the NLRB set a date for a hearing on the objections raised by Foxwoods. I last updated the status in this post. You can find all the posts about the election here. As to the hearing, The Day reports, A recent decision by the NLRB found that Foxwoods’ claims that… Continue Reading
Foxwoods/UAW – Is Foxwoods’ Continued Challenge Doomed at the NLRB?
Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Labor Law & NRLBLost in the shuffle of the election at Foxwoods last Saturday, was the one-paragraph concurrence issued last week denying Foxwoods’ Request for Review of the Regional Director’s decision mandating an election. That concurrence by Member Peter Schaumber (who I met earlier this month), can be found in the Daily Labor Reports (subscription required). It paints a dismal picture for Foxwoods as it continues… Continue Reading
Foxwoods Election Goes Forward
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationAs expected, the NLRB has denied Foxwoods’ request to stay (i.e. postpone) the union election scheduled for this Saturday without comment. The NLRB also denied Foxwoods’ request for review of the underlying decision setting up the election by Regional Director Peter Hoffman. The Day reports: “The board has denied the employer’s request for review,” said… Continue Reading
Foxwoods/UAW – Foxwoods Asks for a Stay on Saturday’s Election
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationWith a union election set for this Saturday, Foxwoods has asked the NLRB to stay the election in a motion filed today. In its Motion to Stay (download here), and perhaps recognizing the uphill battle it faces in getting the election stayed, Foxwoods has pointed out time and again the unique nature of its arguments. (In many election… Continue Reading
UAW Lands First Soft Punch in Battle for Union Recognition at Foxwoods Casino
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationAs I noted nearly a month ago, the historic battle for recognition by UAW at Foxwoods Casino was likely to be a long drawn-out affair. As with any boxing match, it can be foolish to to draw any conclusions by what happens when the first few punches are thrown. The UAW landed a soft punch… Continue Reading
UAW / Foxwoods – What It Means in Connecticut
Posted in Labor Law & NRLB, LitigationUSA Today reports that the United Auto Workers (who are dominating the headlines this week with their strike and settlement with General Motors) filed formal petition papers with the National Labor Relations Board this morning to form a union of approximately 3000 dealers at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. Conventional wisdom is that unions do not… Continue Reading
About Daniel Schwartz
Trusted advisor. Experienced employment law attorney. Bar leader. Award-winning author. Noted Speaker. "Legal Rebel". All can be said to be apt descriptions of Daniel Schwartz, a member of Pullman & Comley. More +
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