In New Jersey a group of janitors, who had been fired from their jobs at Linens ‘n’ Things after the company hired Janitorial Environmental Services, were re-instated following a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board.
An administrative law judge ruled that Janitorial Environmental Services of Morris Plains, New Jersey had terminated the janitors’ employment because they were members of the Service Employees International Union.
Now the company must not only reinstate the janitors, but it must also pay them their contractual wages, pay them for their lost wages, and renegotiate a new contract. The janitors currently earn $7.75 an hour and their pay will rise to $10 an hour before their contract expires in 2007.
Management should take actions that are based only upon an effective and well-crafted labor relations action plan. Such a plan would minimize the chances of litigation.
