IBEW local fights employers' "right to reject"

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In January, a membership meeting of IBEW Local 99 in Providence, RI, voted by a clear majority to call for action to get rid of contract clauses that give contractors the unilateral, arbitrary right to reject any applicant for work, including even electricians dispatched from the union's own hiring hall. In its consuming desire to cultivate amicable relations with employers, the IBEW international office requires every construction local to include this provision in its local contract. But sentiment in favor of dumping this employers' right to reject is growing throughout the international, mainly because it arms employers with a powerful device for blacklisting the most vocal, loyal, union members, those likely to police jobs to ensure that union standards are defended at the job.

At the IBEW convention five years ago, over the opposition of the international leadership, the delegates instructed the international to work toward eliminating the unlimited right to reject and make it subject to "good cause." At the most recent convention, the delegates --- who are mostly local leaders including business managers --- voted to reaffirm their position. This time there was no expressed opposition from the international, but in the last five years, there has been no public record of any steps taken by the international to comply with the convention directives. Now Local 99 wants to see some action. The January local meeting decided to call on other IBEW locals in the area for support.

See AUD action proposals to fight the "right to reject."

NOTE: AUD has received reports that courts or the NLRB have intervened in some individual cases. If you know of cases where this has occurred, please let us know.