Judge: Covanta Violated US Workers

" ... Covanta viciously punished these workers".

"This ruling lets the rest of the world know that, without question, that Covanta broke the law and will have to put things right."

Gary P. Sullivan, AFL-CIO.  March 2010.

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Judge: Covanta, SEMASS violated workers’ rights

By Staff reports

Herald News Staff

Posted Mar 29, 2010 @ 11:59 AM

BRAINTREE, Mass., USA 

A National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge has found that Covanta Energy Corporation/SEMASS is guilty of numerous federal labor law violations, including withholding nearly $1 million in bonuses and wage increases from 140 workers at a plant in Wareham.

The ruling requires Covanta to repay the workers the monies owed, with interest, and to bargain with the workers’ union (Local 369) over terms and conditions of employment before making any changes. Union officials charged, and NLRB administrative law judge David I. Goldman upheld, that the company’s illegal actions caused employees to lose between 8 percent and 11 percent of their annual compensation.

The decision concerns the administrative phase of the charges against Covanta; the NLRB has also sought injunctive relief against Covanta in federal district court. Should the court rule against Covanta on this, Covanta will be forced to pay a portion of bonus and wage increase money owed the workers. The injunctive petition is still pending.

Gary P. Sullivan, president of Local 369, Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, hailed the NRLB decision. “This union has long known that Covanta viciously punished these workers because they organized and demanded dignity and a voice in the workplace," Sullivan siad. "This ruling lets the rest of the world know that, without question, that Covanta broke the law and will have to put things right.”

Nearly 150 employees at the West Wareham facility formed a union in May 2008 and joined Local 369, Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO. In the nearly two years since that vote, the workers have been bargaining with Covanta toward a first contract. The unfair labor practices at issue in Judge Goldman's decision occurred in February 2009, and the union filed unfair labor practices at that time protesting the company's actions.

A copy of the decision is available at www.covantasemass369.org/notice/01-CA-45233.pdf.

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