Tenneco Automotive, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board

**What Happened** Tenneco Automotive, a car parts manufacturer, got into a legal dispute with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over how the company treated its union and workers. The company was accused of committing unfair labor practices, including retaliating against workers and improperly withdrawing recognition of their union. The case involved multiple allegations that Tenneco violated workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively. **What the Court Decided** The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a split decision in 2013. The court sided with Tenneco on one issue, ruling that the company did not unlawfully withdraw recognition of the union. However, the court supported the NLRB on other charges, finding that Tenneco did commit unfair labor practices by interfering with workers' rights, discriminating against employees, and failing to bargain in good faith with the union. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case reinforces that employers cannot retaliate against workers for union activities or interfere with their organizing rights. While companies may sometimes successfully challenge specific NLRB rulings, workers' fundamental rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining remain protected under federal law.