Winston Secures Reversal for Peterbilt Before NLRB

The firm obtained a reversal of a multi-million dollar back pay award on behalf of the Peterbilt Motors Company division of client PACCAR Inc. During contentious labor negotiations with the United Auto Workers, Peterbilt locked out employees at its Nashville plant and eventually closed the facility. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel sued Peterbilt, contending the lockout was unlawful. An NLRB administrative law judge agreed and ordered Peterbilt to compensate employees for wages covering the lockout period. Resolving what it called a case of first impression, the NLRB reversed the ALJ and found none of Peterbilt's conduct following the lockout "tainted" the legitimate business reasons that prompted the Company's decision to institute that work stoppage.