A federal appeals court has upheld a decisive victory for union workers, affirming that a New Jersey healthcare company violated federal labor law by unlawfully delaying the reinstatement of striking employees. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reinforced the National Labor Relations Board’s ruling that workers who strike to protest unfair labor practices must be reinstated immediately and unconditionally—regardless of industry-specific challenges.
At the heart of this case is a 2014 strike involving more than 400 employees represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. The employer had argued that contractual agreements with staffing agencies justified a month-long delay in rehiring the strikers. However, the court emphatically rejected this defense, clarifying that the National Labor Relations Act allows no exceptions in cases of unfair labor practices—even within the sensitive healthcare sector.
The union’s legal team, led by Gladstein, Reif & Meginniss, LLP, played a pivotal role in securing this outcome. This ruling serves as a reminder that workers striking over unfair labor practices cannot be sidelined or delayed in returning to work—no matter the logistical challenges employers claim.
Coverage by Bloomberg Law can be found.