First Circuit strikes union bargaining unit with no members

Although the Board can recognize protected activity by one worker under the “Army of One” theory, it may not certify a union to represent a bargaining unit with no members, held the First Circuit. In the case, the union petitioned to represent a group of workers, and eventually won the right to do so, but by the time the Board certified the bargaining unit, the unit’s work had ended, there were no more such workers and the evidence confirmed there would be no more such workers. While Board precedent allows a certification for a unit of none in unusual circumstances where such work might resume (for example, in some seasonal worker cases), the First Circuit held it does not permit certification when there is no such likelihood.

Source: NLRB v. Wang Theatre, Inc., case no. 20-1157 (1st Cir. 11/30/2020).