Every year, thousands of charges are filed against employers alleging discrimination against workers because of their union membership or support, and every year the National Labor Relations Board awards millions of dollars in back pay to workers who have been unlawfully discharged. In fiscal year 2013, the last year for which data is available, employers were required to pay workers backpay and fines totaling more than $110 million, and more than 2,700 illegally terminated workers were offered reinstatement.
Employers have sometimes given benefits to their non-unionised employees but denied the same benefits to employees who have chosen union representation to deter future organising efforts. These tactics are often effective in suppressing workers’ rights to organise and engage in collective bargaining.
