Big Win for Washington Public Employee Union Members’ Privacy

On October 31, 2017, the Court of Appeals of the State of Washington granted a win for public sector unions in granting a permanent injunction blocking the Freedom Foundation’s access to union member contact information for the purposes of attempting to dissuade them from union membership. The decision, available here, found that state employees have […]

Employment Relations Board Orders TriMet to Arbitrate

Employer TriMet is the mass transit district for the greater metropolitan area around Portland. ATU Local 757, the Union that represents Employer’s mass transit operators, brought two grievances: (1) A grievance seeking to enforce a contract provision that would allow a terminated manager to return to a union position; and (2) A grievance seeking to […]

A Plaintiff’s Guide To Fed.R.Civ.P. 26 Discovery Proportionality

The Actual Changes To The Text Of Rule 26(b) Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(b)(1) now says, Unless otherwise limited by court order, the scope of discovery is as follows: Parties may obtain discovery regarding any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any party’s claim or defense and proportional to the needs of the case, considering the importance of the […]

WELA Press Release: New Pregnant Workers Law

On May 17, 2017 Governor Inslee signed the pregnant workers accommodations act that Washington Employment Lawyers Association (WELA) worked so hard to get passed. WELA member Katherine Chamberlain prepared this press release from WELA and sent it out Wednesday: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 New Law Requires Washington Employers to Help Pregnant Workers Remain Part of […]

NLRB Determinations Regarding NLRA Coverage of Housekeeping versus Theology Faculty at Religious Universities

In Saint Xavier University, 365 NLRB No. 54 (April 6, 2017), the National Labor Relations Board found that housekeepers of a self-identified religious educational institution are within the Board’s jurisdiction. The Board applied Hanna Boys Center, 284 NLRB 1080 (1987), finding that non-teaching employees of religious institutions or nonprofit religious organizations will be covered unless […]

Ninth Circuit Rules in Favor of Employees in Two Sexual Harassment Cases

On March 24, 2017, the Ninth Circuit determined in Anderson v. CRST International, Inc., et al, No. 15-55556 that a jury could find that an employer’s remedy in response to a female truck driver’s sexual harassment complaint was not enough even though the employer separated her from the offending co-worker. The Ninth Circuit explained: “[] […]

11th Circuit Finds Title VII Does Not Protect Against Sexual Orientation Bias

The 11th Circuit in Evans v. Georgia Regional Hospital, Case No. 4:15-cv-00103-JRH-GRS (March 10, 2017) finds that Title VII doesn’t protect sexual orientation bias. This is in contrast to the EEOC’s interpretation, which is stated on its website as: “While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not explicitly include sexual orientation or […]

Labor & Employment Law Developments Under the Trump Administration

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): On January 25, 2017, Philip A. Miscimarra (R) appointed as acting chair to the NLRB. People’s World website reports that prior to 2013, Miscimarra worked for several law firms with a reputation for union-busting and as an NLRB Board member, he “consistently dissented from rulings favoring working people that have […]