Langeloth Metallurgical Company will pay about $3.6 million to 51 individuals after unlawfully delaying or denying their reinstatement following a strike. The National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) Region 6 announced that it approved the settlement agreement, which resolves a long-running unfair labor practice case involving the Pennsylvania company.
The employees had engaged in an economic strike from approximately September 19, 2019, through August 16, 2021. According to Administrative Law Judge Sarah Karpinen, Langeloth reinstated some strikers but unlawfully kept approximately 60 of them from returning to work. The workers were represented by the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).
Although the administrative law judge's decision addressed approximately 60 former strikers, the settlement resulted from a compromise between the NLRB and Langeloth and provides monetary relief to 51 individuals whom the region determined were eligible for reinstatement.
Under the settlement, Langeloth will pay a total of $3,662,485 to the affected former strikers. The monetary relief includes backpay for lost wages, missed 401(k) contributions, reimbursable expenses, interest, compensation for the adverse tax consequences associated with lump-sum backpay awards and front pay for former strikers who agreed to waive reinstatement. Based on the front pay component, no additional reinstatements are required under the settlement terms.
In addition to the monetary relief, Langeloth agreed to correct the seniority dates for vacation accrual purposes of certain former strikers who were reinstated, post a Notice to Employees and provide written notification to the affected former strikers that it has removed from its files any reference to its failure to reinstate or timely recall them to work.
"The agreement provides 100% of the Region's calculated monetary damages to date, together with an additional $1.275 million in front pay for several former strikers who elected to waive immediate reinstatement," Acting Deputy General Counsel Lynisa Michalski said. "By working collaboratively, the employer, the union and the former strikers reached a mutually agreeable resolution that delivers meaningful relief to employees now while avoiding years of costly and uncertain litigation."
Region 6 staff who contributed to the successful resolution of the case include Regional Director Nancy Wilson, Assistant to the Regional Director Tara Yoest, Investigator Zaine Losk and Board Attorneys Payton Gutierrez and Alex Figuly.
Owned by Canadian mining company Centerra Gold Inc., Langeloth purchases molybdenum concentrate from third parties, refines into and sells finished molybdenum products to the metallurgical and specialty markets
