Bashar Issa settles case of unfair labor practices

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.buffalonews.com/145/story/354251.html

Developer to pay workers’ back wages
By Sharon LinstedtNEWS BUSINESS REPORTER
Updated: 05/24/08 7:10 AM

The British developer who has proposed a $100 million makeover of Buffalo’s historic Statler Towers has reached a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board on charges of unfair labor practices.

Manchester-based Bashar Issa has agreed to pay out nearly $80,000 in back wages to 10 laborers his development company laid off or fired because of their unionization efforts. The federal labor agency had accused Issa and his BSC Development Buffalo LLC of using illegal tactics to dissuade workers from seeking representation from Laborer’s Local 210.


Bashar Issa will pay out back wages.


The NLRB found merit in a range of worker claims against Issa’s company, including allegations they faced threats, demotion, suspension and firing for their union involvement. The agency also agreed with union claims that BSC Development failed to bargain in good faith with the union.

The NLRB had set a May 27 hearing date for Issa after he failed to respond to the settlement offer by an April deadline.

Paul Murphy, assistant director of the NLRB’s Buffalo regional office, confirmed Issa raised no objections to the agreement.

“We tendered a settlement agreement, he signed it and now we’re waiting for the union’s response,” Murphy said. “Assuming everything goes smoothly, we’ll have a final, binding agreement very soon.”

Issa could not be reached to comment.

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