Castlewood Employee Lockout Update

Castlewood Country Club has been ordered to appear before an administrative law judge in Oakland to defend itself against National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charges that it has not been negotiating in good faith during contract talks. Castlewood locked out its 61 food and beverage workers in February of 2010 when they would not accept a 50% reduction in health benefits covered by the club. The union representing the workers had offered a 30% reduction to try to reach agreement.

In the latest NLRB complaint, the club has been ordered to calculate its locked-out employees' back wages since August 10, 2010, the date when the NLRB is charging that new provisions were illegally included by Castlewood in negotiations. Payment of back wages could be awarded to the workers should the club lose the case. The hearing will take place at the regional office of the National Labor Relations Board in Oakland, commencing on January 9th, 2012.

Catholic Social Teaching calls on all of us to care for the most vulnerable in our society. We are called to protect the basic rights of workers, including decent and fair wages, the right of workers to organize and collectively bargain, and the right to productive work. We should all pray for a fair resolution to this divisive issue at Castlewood and that those most economically vulnerable are protected.