Section 37 Damages

• Library: Employer-Employee Law 2008

In a departure from the NLRA’s exclusive administrative enforcement of unfair labor practice charges, NLRA § 303, 29 U.S.C. § 187, permits employers and others injured by NLRA § 8(b)(4),
29 U.S.C. § 158(b)(4), violations to sue directly in federal court to recover damages. NLRA § 303 does not provide damage relief to private parties for violations of NLRA § 8(b)(7); only NLRA § 8(b)(4) secondary boycott victims are entitled to relief.

The same principles used to protect neutral employers against an unfair labor practice under NLRA § 8(b)(4) create liability in the NLRA § 303 suit. Schrader v. Sheet Metal Workers Int’l Assn. Local Union # 20, 656 F. Supp. 1487 (N.D. Ind. 1987). An NLRB proceeding finding an unfair labor practice under NLRA § 8(b)(4) will normally be given preclusive effect with respect to liability in a subsequent NLRA § 303 claim. Wickham Contracting Co. v. Bd. of Educ. of City of New York, 715 F.2d 21 (2^nd Cir. 1983)...