The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild

TNG-CWA, Local 32035

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Radio Free Asia Management Challenges Election

RFA Management Friday filed frivolous objections to our union election victory. Management cited two reasons for its objection – the decision of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) not to translate ballots or have interpreters, and the alleged defacement of the posted election notices by the union.

In its filing, RFA says “the refusal to accommodate non-English speaking employees deprived those employees of the opportunity to participate intelligently in the election.” Before the vote, RFA had asked the NLRB to order translated notices and ballots and to provide interpreters on election day, but the NLRB refused the request.

RFA also alleged that the “union and/or its agents” repeatedly defaced election notices with pro-union sentiments. RFA said the alleged defacements “destroyed” the neutrality of the election. The union did not deface any notices. We had no reason to either deface the notices or ask someone to deface the notices because that would just give the company an excuse, just as it has done, to delay the inevitable – our victory.

For now our election victory certification is on hold until the NLRB decides on the merits of the company challenge. RFA has seven days to present evidence. We hope the NLRB will decide soon thereafter. How long a decision will take is uncertain, but TNG-CWA will be doing everything possible to speed the process.

We believe it is time for RFA to recognize the will of the Language Service employees and bargain. We understood the process and whether or not we wanted to be unionized and, by more than 2-to-1, we voted yes.

 

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Thursday, July 3 Noon-1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. 1925 K Street, N.W. First Floor -- The "Brick Room” AGENDA: · RFA Union structure · Response to RFA management’s objection to the union election result and accusations