Section 59 Strike Conversion?From an Economic Strike to an Unfair Labor Practice Strike and Vice Versa

• Library: Employer-Employee Law 2008

The nature and type of any particular strike is not static. An economic strike can be converted to a ULP strike, and a ULP strike can be converted to an economic strike. An economic strike can be converted to a ULP strike if the employer commits a ULP that aggravates or prolongs the strike. NLRB v. Flat Dog Prod., 34 Fed. Appx. 548 (9^th Cir. 2002); NLRB v. Top Mfg. Co., 594 F.2d 223, 225
(9^th Cir.1979). The following practices automatically convert an economic strike to a ULP strike:

• Employer domination of a labor organization, NLRB v. Koenig Iron Works, Inc., 681 F.2d 130 (2^nd Cir. 1982)

• Outright refusal to bargain, NLRB v. Pecheur Lozenge Co.
  209 F.2d 393 (2^nd Cir. 1953)

Other ULPs only convert an economic strike to a ULP strike upon a showing of substantial evidence that the ULP actually prolonged the strike. NLRB v. Harding Glass Co., 80 F.3d 7, 10 (1^st Cir. 1996). The burden of proof is on the NLRB...