Plum Island
Friday, 05 May 2006 00:00

Ruling OKs Back Pay for Ousted Workers

Friday, 5.May.2006 | Source: By:Mitchell Freedman -Newsday

A National Labor Relations Board panel in Washington has ruled that nine of 10 workers who were not allowed to return to their jobs on Plum Island following a strike in 2002 were improperly denied reinstatement, and deserve back pay for three years of missed work.

The ruling, which would be reduced by any money they earned over that period in another job, is being appealed by LB&B Associates Inc., the Maryland-based company that operated the Animal Disease Center four years ago.

The actual amount to be paid must still be calculated by the NLRB's compliance division, according to Marty Glennon, the attorney for the workers. It is also unclear who would pay for the firm's appeal of the decision. Their previous appeal of a ruling that the workers were improperly denied reinstatement was funded by the federal government, Glennon said.

The union at Plum Island went on strike for better pay and job security on Aug. 14, 2002, and made an unconditional offer to return to work in March 2003.

In a joint statement, Rep. Timothy Bishop (D-Southampton) and Sen Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) applauded the NLRB's decision.

"Enough time and taxpayer money has been wasted with these punitive actions against these hard working people. Now a judge and the NLRB have ruled in their favor and it is time to put this matter to rest, restoring these workers jobs at Plum Island and rebuilding the relationships at the Center. We are disappointed that LB&B continues to drag out these proceedings and has once again appealed this decision," they said in the statement. "We have contacted the Department of Homeland Security to seek assurances that no more taxpayer money will be allocated to LB&B for yet another appeal."