More than 30 Utah workers will appeal a decision by the National Labor Relations Board that they allege will cost them their jobs.
The 37 workers, employed by Seattle-based Stevedoring Services of America, filed charges with the NLRB in November 2002 against the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, after the unions determined that the Utah jobs should be moved from Salt Lake City to facilities staffed by union workers.
The Utah-based workers manage the day-to-day activities and perform computerized planning work over the company's rail, yard and vessel functions. The charges filed with the NLRB argue that by insisting that the jobs be performed at ports staffed by union workers, the two groups violated the employees' right to refrain from unionization.
Last month, the NLRB dismissed the charges. Dan Cronin, director of legal information for the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, said foundation attorneys are in the process of initiating the appeal. There is no set time frame for resolving the matter, Cronin said.
"It varies from case to case," Cronin said. "But obviously, the sooner we can get this going the better. If they (the NLRB) delay this or don't act, it could cost these workers their jobs.
"These folks could lose their jobs simply because they refuse unionization," Cronin said. "That's what we're fighting to prevent."
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