There's Something About Mary Johnson

For the second time in as many weeks there has been a judgment against the YWCA of Western Mass for violations of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

In response to a previous decision and Order against the YWCA by Administrative Law Judge David I. Goldman, U.S. Federal District Judge Michael Ponsor has ruled that the YWCA must adhere to that decision and granted 10 J Injunctive Relief to UAW Local 2322 the duly elected bargaining representatives for employees of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts. Now two Federal Judges have found the YWCA guilty of violating U.S. Labor laws

In his decision U.S District Judge Ponsor ordered that the YWCA implement the previous order of Administrative Law Judge David I. Goldman which orders YWCA management to “sign the collective-bargaining agreement reached with the Union and ratified by employees on April 20, 2005.” It also orders the YWCA to stop “interfering with, restraining or coercing employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed them by Section 7 of the Act (National Labor Relations Act).

The YWCA is estimated to have spent several hundred thousand dollars in legal expenses fighting their workers rights from the onset of the workers efforts to organize and join UAW Local 2322. Available IRS records indicate that the YWCA spent $68,951 in legal fees in the Fiscal Year Ending (FYE) 6/30/04 and $46,738 in FYE 6/30/05 for a total of $115,689. Those figures do not include costs incurred from 7/1/05 until now which will be considerable given the legal fight the YWCA has waged against the NLRB charges.

Those figures were recently amended as they YWCA has previously claimed no legal expenses for those periods and were only amended when UAW Local 2322 President Ron Patenaude filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office over what he saw as discrepancies in their IRS filings.

Patenaude said “it’s sad to think that the YWCA who solicits money thorough its charities and the United Way, are instead of helping the victims who come to them for help or increasing the meager wages paid their employees are squandering those monies on high priced lawyers to break a union which a majority of employees voted for.” UAW International Representative Henry Fijalkowski added, “This is the second ruling supporting our position that the YWCA violated their workers rights and I hope that the YWCA management will recognize this and stop expending what have been exorbitant amounts to avoid their legal obligations under the NLRA.”

For More information contact Ron Patenaude 413-534-7600