NLRB Region Says Hugo Boss Failed to Bargain in Good Faith

Cleveland - Faced with the threat of a formal NLRB complaint, Hugo Boss has retreated from its position on closing its Ohio plant and has agreed to return to the bargaining table.

For months, Hugo Boss has held a sledgehammer over the heads of these workers," said Workers United President Bruce Raynor. "Now the force of law has demanded the company reconsider its actions. This is a significant victory for the workers in their struggle to keep this plant open. As we've said all along, Hugo Boss' actions are wrong legally, wrong morally, and bad for Hugo Boss's business. We look forward to returning to the bargaining table and negotiating a new contract."

The National Labor Relations Board Region 8, which covers Ohio, has advised Workers United and Hugo Boss that based on Region 8's investigation of the union's charges against Hugo Boss, it has found merit in the union's charges. Region 8 found merit in Workers United's claim that Hugo Boss did not bargain in good faith with the union about the decision regarding closure of its plant in Cleveland. The company has been advised by Region 8 that a complaint would be issued against it unless the company agrees to settle the case. While the case has not been settled, Hugo Boss has, apparently in response to Region 8's determination, contacted Workers United about returning to the bargaining table to negotiate about keeping the plant open.

"Since the very end of last year, Hugo Boss has been saying that its decision to close our plant was final and they would not bargain anymore," said Cleveland Hugo Boss manufacturing worker Wanda Navarro. "It looks like they were wrong. And that's excellent news for all of us who are facing the possibility of unemployment next month. All of us - for ourselves, for our families, for Cleveland's economy - need to keep our jobs."

A meeting between Workers United and Hugo Boss to resume negotiations about keeping the plant open has been set for April 8th in Cleveland at the office of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Workers United represents the Hugo Boss manufacturing workers at the plant in Cleveland. It is Hugo Boss' only manufacturing facility in the U.S.

Workers United, SEIU is a union of 150,000 workers in the US and Canada who work in the manufacturing, distribution, laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, apparel and textile industries. www.workers-united.org

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