3. Did the employer unlawfully discharge the four truck drivers who never returned to work?

Explain your reasoning. Seven of the employer’s 11 concrete truck drivers met several times during the week of September 16 to discuss their current wage rates, the lack of a medical insurance plan, and whether they should consider joining a union. After meeting with a representative of the national truck drivers’ union, four of the seven drivers signed union authorization cards. Employee Santos, one of the card signers, wrote a letter which the seven employees presented to the company’s plant manager on Friday, September 20. The letter stated, in part, ‘‘Today all employees wish to express a silent strike in pursuance of the right that our salaries be increased to $5.75 per hour.

We will not work today . . . until an accord is reached.’’

Later that Friday morning, the company president met with seven employees and told them that the company was in no position to give any wage increase; however, steps were already underway to establish a medical insurance plan by the end of the year. The seven employees met outside the plant and decided the company’s position was unacceptable. The company president stated that the board of directors would be meeting the following day (Saturday) to consider the matter. The seven employees continued their walkout during the rest of Friday