Labor Board Dismisses Union Complaint Against Hawaii Telcom

Hawaiian Telcom Headquarters. Courtesy of Hawaiian Telcom.

By Sonia Isotov

Last Thursday, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) dismissed an unfair labor practices charge filed by IBEW Local Union 1357 regarding implementation of Hawaiian Telcom’s “last, best, and final offer.”

After bargaining reached an impasse regarding Hawaiian Telcom’s January 1, 2012 implementation of its “last, best and final offer,” the company proceeded with implementation even though the union had rejected it by a vote last December.

The dismissal is based upon the NLRB’s determination after review of the facts that the parties had bargained in good faith to a valid impasse as of January 1, 2012.

Hawaiian Telcom said in a statement that it was aware that union leadership intended to appeal the NLRB’s dismissal and that dialogue between the company and IBEW 1357 representatives is ongoing.

In a statement on their website, Scot F. Long, business manager of the IBEW LocalUnion 1357 wrote, “We are meeting with our attorney and our International Office to explore all of our options: strike, slow down/sickout, appeal the decision, do nothing and have the existing impasse play out until 2015, continue to try and work on a settlement offer, etc.”