NLRB Accuses Nokia of Violating Federal Labor Laws

As Nokia attempts to implement a plan to ship jobs out of the U.S. to low paid workers in India and Romania, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a complaint against the company for violations of federal labor law, setting the case for trial in Cincinnati on April 30, 2019.

CWA Local 4390 in Columbus, Ohio, represents Nokia's union workforce, one of the oldest bargaining units in CWA. The unit, mainly field and remote equipment installers, has more than 100 years of history, originally as Western Electric, then AT&T Technologies, Lucent Technologies, Alcatel-Lucent, and now Nokia.

The NLRB accuses Nokia of refusing to bargain in good faith over the closure of a remote installation and support facility in Dublin, Ohio, then transferring these operations to subcontractors. 

"Nokia is turning its back on U.S. workers and their communities and putting the bargained healthcare of 40,000 retirees at risk," said Art Plas, President of CWA Local 4390. "The company's goals will eliminate the U.S. workforce and replace what is left of our union jobs with low-paid subcontractors and the non-union employees of Nokia's wholly-owned subsidiary, SAC Wireless, Inc. Nokia's plans are a direct threat to the families, retirees, and communities that created the historical success acquired by this company."