In April, several employees of Javatech, Inc., a computer hardware developer with 250 employees, started organizing the Javatech Employees Union (JEU). When Javatech refused to voluntarily recognize the union, organizers petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for an election. In June, the NLRB conducted an election that showed that a majority of Javatech employees supported the union. JEU was certified and began bargaining with management over wages and benefits.
The following January, Javatech management offered the JEU a 1 percent annual wage increase for all employees with no other changes in employment benefits. The JEU countered by requesting a 3 percent wage increase and an employee health-insurance package. Javatech management responded that the 1 percent wage increase was the company’s only offer. The JEU petitioned the NLRB for an order requesting good faith bargaining. After meeting with an NLRB representative, Javatech management still refused to consider modifying its position. JEU leaders then became embroiled in a dispute about whether the JEU should accept this offer or go on strike.
New union leaders were elected in July, and the employer refused to meet with the new JEU representatives, claiming that the union no longer had majority support from employees. In August, a group of seven Javatech engineers began feeling ill while working with a new adhesive used in creating motherboards. The seven engineers discussed going on strike without union support. Before they had reached an agreement, one of the engineers, Rosa Molina, became dizzy while working with the adhesive and walked out of the workplace. Using the information presented in the chapter, answer the following questions.
1. How many of Javatech’s 250 employees must have signed authorization cards to allow the JEU to petition the NLRB for an election?
2. What must Javatech change in its collective bargaining negotiations to demonstrate that it is bargaining in good faith with the JEU, as required by labor law?
3. Could the seven engineers legally call a strike? What would such a strike be called?
4. Would Molina’s safety walkout be protected under the Labor-Management Relations Act? Explain.