April 7, 2014
By Neal Tepel
Kensington, Md., – In a major development regarding the Kellogg Company's illegal lockout of BCTGM members in Memphis Tennessee, the five-member National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) headquartered in Washington, D.C. unanimously authorized its lawyers on April 4th to seek an immediate injunction in U.S. Federal Court against Kellogg for its part in the long-running lockout. Workers at the facility are members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 252G.
This decision comes on the heels of the complaint issued on March 27th by the New Orleans NLRB Region 15 that cited Kellogg for multiple serious violations of federal labor law in regard to this lockout. A trial is set for May 5th. The NLRB Labor Board's action to seek injunctive relief demonstrates the depth and severity of Kellogg's lockout of BCTGM workers.
"We were obviously pleased when the NLRB General Counsel issued his opinion on March 27th regarding the NLRB's citing of Kellogg's severe violation of labor law in the Memphis bargaining and its subsequent lockout of 226 families. This epic decision by all five NLRB members recognizes that Kellogg's illegal positions and iron-fisted conduct were so destructive to these workers' rights and lives that immediate court relief is required."
"The union has said – repeatedly – that it will bargain with the company over all lawful subjects for a new Memphis contract just as soon as Kellogg opens the gates to the plant and brings its employees back to work. But we will not negotiate with the gun of unlawful conduct to our head. The NLRB, through this rare and powerful action at the highest level, now seeks an immediate end to this unnecessary carnage through injunctive relief. We applaud the NLRB decision," Durkee concluded.
