NLRB statistics and filings often do not reveal the true activity level of Operating Engineers Local 150. Frequently, Local 150’s strategy is more focused on picketing and boycotts, rather than traditional NLRB elections. The reality is that Operating Engineers 150 is probably the most active private sector union in Northern Illinois. They are exceedingly well funded. They have a huge, well-paid staff, including an army of lawyers. Here is salary information from the most recent LM-2 filing with the US Department of labor:

Wessels Sherman has been involved over the past few years in a large number of these cases. Most frequently it is a boycott using an inflatable rat set up not at the target company location, but at the facilities of their customers and suppliers. We have written in previous Client Updates about the notorious Eliason & Knuth case that we expect to be reversed soon by the NLRB. Local 150 relies on this free-speech theory to justify a clear secondary boycott. The eventual Board reversal will seriously limit the effectiveness of these secondary boycott campaigns. We are awaiting an Administrative Law Judge decision on an important case where we represented the neutral employer. Wessels Sherman lawyers recently were involved in a lengthy battle in the Rockford area where Operating Engineers 150 walked away after about a year of harassment. A recent Local 150 focus has been generator suppliers through efforts at organizing generator technicians and strikes are ongoing.

Local 150 Trust fund audits have been a big issue as well. There, the tactic is to use trust funds rather than the union to audit and claim huge sums from unsuspecting employers on various theories. These audits can be particularly dangerous because if a federal court collection suit is filed, under ERISA there is strong likelihood that the target company will end up paying the other side’s legal fees.

If any of our readers would like to discuss any of these issues, contact Attorney Richard Wessels at riwessels@wesselssherman.com or at (630) 377.1554.