Month: June 2022

A New York federal judge has confirmed a $30 million arbitration award benefiting more than 100,000 current and former union members, marking a major legal victory for 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, represented by James Reif of Gladstein, Reif & Meginniss, LLP. The decision establishes a special wage fund to compensate underpaid workers.

The dispute stems from allegations by 1199SEIU that over 40 home care agencies violated collective bargaining agreements by underpaying home care workers. The Arbitrator ruled in favor of the Union and issued an award requiring the companies to contribute $30 million into a special wage fund to compensate underpaid workers. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found that the Union argued persuasively and confirmed that the Award was “reasonable and well founded,” giving it full legal effect under the Labor Management Relations Act.

Read the order.

Coverage by Law360 can be found.

A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge has ruled that St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, New York, violated federal labor law by firing radiology technician and union leader Andrea Roe. The hospital had claimed it dismissed Roe over a health privacy violation, but the NLRB found the firing was motivated by anti-union animus.

NLRB Judge Benjamin W. Green issued a detailed 26-page decision confirming that hospital management engaged in a campaign to identify and retaliate against union organizers, including Roe, who led the successful campaign to unionize the staff with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. 1199SEIU was represented at the hearing by Jessica E. Harris, of Gladstein, Reif & Meginniss, LLP.

The judge cited testimony and emails showing management’s hostility toward union activity, including efforts to single out organizers as “ringleaders” and viewing union supporters as disloyal.

As a remedy, the judge ordered St. Anthony to reinstate Roe with full back pay and restore her to her position, finding that the hospital’s conduct violated the National Labor Relations Act.

The case is St. Anthony Community Hospital v. 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Case No. 02-CA-278511, before the NLRB Division of Judges.

Read Law360’s coverage.

Gladstein, Reif & Meginniss LLP is proud to announce that several of its attorneys were selected for inclusion in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers guide for 2022. The GRM attorneys recognized are:

• Amy Gladstein* – Workers’ Rights; Unions
• Katherine H. Hansen – Unions; Employee Rights
• Kent Hirozawa – Unions; Employee Rights
• Beth Margolis – Unions; Employee Rights
• William S. Massey – Unions & Collective Bargaining
• Walter “Terry” Meginniss Jr. – Unions & Collective Bargaining
• James Reif* – Employee & Civil Rights
• Amelia Tuminaro – Unions; Employee Rights

* Denotes members of the Lawdragon Hall of Fame

This honor reflects GRM’s continued leadership in protecting workers and unions through litigation, advocacy, and collective bargaining.

View the full publication online: The 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers.