NY Knicks owner, James Dolan, is being accused by the National Labor Relations Board of some major labor violations. What it all comes down to is that Dolan is being accused of refusing to give technicians at Cablevision, his company, a pay increase unless they voted to quit their union.
In a complaint issued late on Thursday, the N.L.R.B.’s Brooklyn office also asserted that Cablevision had illegally undermined the union’s representation of those workers by sponsoring a nonbinding poll to determine whether they wanted to leave their union, the Communications Workers of America.
The latest complaint focuses on a speech Mr. Dolan gave to the Brooklyn technicians on Sept. 9, during which he said he would help get the union to withdraw its representation of them if they voted against keeping the union. Cablevision sponsored a vote on the issue the next day to gauge workers’ sentiment. According to the Honest Ballot Association, which conducted the poll, 129 workers voted not to retain the union, and 115 voted to keep it.
The N.L.R.B.’s Brooklyn regional director, James G. Paulsen, said the poll unlawfully interfered with the union’s ability to represent the Brooklyn technicians, especially when, according to the board, Cablevision had not bargained in good faith and company officials had illegally promised individual workers better benefits and working conditions if they voted to oust the union.
Cablevision has issued a statement in response to the allegations.
“We are outraged but not surprised by the one-sided finding,” from the board. The company added, “The N.L.R.B. regional office led by Director Paulsen should be serving as a trusted government body with an open mind, but instead acts to advance the C.W.A.’s agenda.”
Labor violations are serious allegations, and if Dolan is found guilty, it could lead to serious problems for the cable tycoon.
[h/t NY Daily News]