Today, Defenders of Wildlife CEO Jamie Clark signed a settlement with our union (represented by OPEIU Local 2) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on four unfair labor practice charges, including the illegal termination of Erica Prather for union organizing one year ago.
As part of the settlement, Erica will receive $87,000 in back pay and other restitution from Defenders of Wildlife. On the other ULPs, Defenders is required to post notices to all staff for 60 days with an implicit acknowledgement of wrongdoing on violating Section 8(a)(1) and (5) of the National Labor Relations Act. The settlement was reached hours before the NLRB was prepared to prosecute Defenders of Wildlife on these charges in administrative law court in Washington, DC – although President Clark and her attorneys (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLC and Littler Mendelson P.C.) could have settled at any time in the past six months. The parties were close to settlement on three of the four charges in November 2022 until Clark communicated about the pending settlement to all Defenders staff with the comment “Defenders is not making any admission that it did anything wrong by entering into this settlement.” Following this incident, the NLRB issued a consolidated complaint covering all four charges. Jamie sent an email to all Defenders staff on Sunday, February 5, announcing the settlement of the charges and cancellation of the trial. This time, the message contained no denial of wrongdoing. An additional unfair labor practice charge filed by Defenders United in December 2022 is pending investigation by the NLRB, with more likely to come. Over a year into bargaining, the parties have reached zero tentative agreements towards a final contract. Defenders United, including Erica Prather, and the Earth Day to Mayday Coalition of green unions will host three rallies outside of Defenders of Wildlife’s DC office (1130 17th Street NW, Washington DC 20036) on February 6, 7 and 8 from 8:15 - 8:45 AM to celebrate this admission of guilt and to demonstrate support for unresolved Unfair Labor Practices and continued challenges at the bargaining table.
1 Comment
Carson Quillinan
2/6/2023 07:13:38 am
I support all of those fighting for fair labor practices and congratulate all of those involved on this admission of guilt.
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