NLRB Issues New Standard For Duty Of Fair Representation Charge Defenses

On September 14, 2018 the National Labor Relations Board issued a memo addressing duty of fair representation charges against labor unions. The National Labor Relations Act makes it illegal for labor unions to restrain or coerce employees when they exercise their rights granted to them by the Act. The law states that a labor organization has a duty to fairly represent employees.

The NLRB believes that their past approach to duty of fair representation cases has created
confusion for employees in what duties are owed to them by union representatives. In response, the memo instructed regional directors that unions should be required to show they have procedures or systems in place to track grievances. It was also explained that a union which does not communicate or respond to a complaining member is negligent, and the negligence would be considered arbitrary and willful. The NLRB stated that it will not accept after-the-fact communication as a correction for negligence. 

The position taken by the NLRB is inconsistent with how they have interpreted duty of fair
representation law in the past. The change means that labor organizations can now be subject to charges based on careless or unprofessional actions that had previously been viewed as just plain error. To avoid a negligence charge, labor organizations should evaluate the procedures and case tracking systems they currently have to ensure their timeliness and thoroughness.

Fair Pay Act Heads to Governor for Signature

On August 31, 2015, the California Senate unanimously passed SB 358. Titled the "Fair Pay Act," this bill amends California Labor Code section 1197.5 which prohibits wage disparities based on gender. SB 358 strengthens the procedures and protections for employees who report a violation of section 1197.5. Importantly, section 1197.5 applies to public employers. With these new protections, public employees may use section 1197.5 more efficiently to challenge discrepancies in wages between genders within classifications.

The Fair Pay Act requires an employer justify a disparity in wages between men and women who perform the same job. A wage differential is appropriate when the employer reasonably applies one of the following factors: 1) a merit system; 2) a seniority system; 3) a system which measures earnings by quantity or production; or 4) a bona fide factor other than sex such as education, training, or experience. For the last element, the employer must demonstrate the factor is not based on or derived form a sex-based differential in compensation, is job related with respect to the questioned position, and is consistent with a business necessity. If the employee demonstrates that an alternative business practice exists that would serve the same business purpose without producing the wage differential, then the employer may not use this factor as a defense.

The Fair Pay Act also adds additional protections for employees who complain about wage disparities. Employers may not fire, discriminate, or retaliate against an employee who invokes the Fair Pay Act's provisions. Employees may disclose their own wages, discuss the wages of others, and inquire about another employee's wages without fear of reprisal.

To enforce the Fair Pay Act, an employee can either file a confidential complaint with the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement or bring a civil action. Any civil action must be commenced within one year of the alleged violation.

This bill is one of the most aggressive attempts in the country to remedy the wage disparity between genders. According to the Los Angeles Times, women in California on average make 84 cents to every dollar earned by a man. Nationally, the average is 74 cents. Women of color are even more disadvantaged with Latinas making only 44 cents to every dollar earned by a man.

Mastagni Holstedt Ranked #1 Litigation Firm By Sacramento Business Journal

The Sacramento Business Journal ranked Mastagni Holstedt the #1 litigation law firm.  The list ranks the top twenty-five law firms in Sacramento metro by number of litigators.

According to Mastagni Holstedt Founder, David P. Mastagni, "We are very pleased to have the growth and success of our litigation practices recognized in this way.  As the firm grows in Southern California, it is important to us to remain the leader in Sacramento litigating on behalf of employees, public safety labor associations, and individual plaintiffs, as well as class and mass actions."