United Steel, Paper & Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial & Service Workers International Union v. National Labor Relations Board

**Union Workers Lost Right to Jobs After Strike** This case involved workers at Jones Plastic and Engineering Company who went on strike. During the strike, the company hired permanent replacement workers to keep operations running. When the strike ended, the striking workers wanted their jobs back, but the company refused to rehire them. The workers' union filed a complaint, arguing this was wrongful termination and retaliation against workers for striking. The court sided with the company and the National Labor Relations Board. The judges ruled that Jones Plastic acted legally when it refused to give the striking workers their jobs back because it had already hired permanent replacements during the strike. This decision matters significantly for workers considering going on strike. While workers have the legal right to strike under federal labor law, this case confirms that employers can hire permanent replacement workers during a strike - and those replacement workers can keep the jobs even after the strike ends. This means striking workers risk permanently losing their positions. Workers should understand this potential consequence before deciding to strike and may want to explore other negotiation strategies or ensure they have strong community and financial support if they choose to strike.