Palmetto Prince George Operating, LLC v. National Labor Relations Board

**What Happened** Nurses at a nursing home operated by Palmetto Prince George Operating wanted to form a union. The company refused to negotiate with the union, claiming the nurses were supervisors who aren't allowed to unionize under federal labor law. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) disagreed and ordered the company to bargain with the union. The company challenged this decision in court. **What the Court Decided** The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the NLRB and the nurses. The court ruled that these nurses were regular employees, not supervisors, because they didn't have the authority to hire, fire, or discipline other workers in a meaningful way. Since they weren't supervisors, they had the right to form a union. The court ordered the nursing home to negotiate with the nurses' union. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling protects healthcare workers' right to organize. Employers sometimes try to block unionization by claiming workers are "supervisors" even when they only provide direction or training to coworkers. This decision clarifies that having some leadership responsibilities doesn't automatically make someone a supervisor who loses union rights.