MINNEAPOLIS >> A company that owns 10 Jimmy John’s sandwich shops in the Twin Cities was within its rights to fire six union workers who circulated posters critical of the company’s sick-leave policy, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.
The full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a three-judge appeals panel, which had affirmed a National Labor Relations Board ruling in favor of the workers, who were part of a unionization drive by the Industrial Workers of the World at shops owned by MikLin Enterprises.
The full appeals court concluded that the poster attack was “so disloyal” that it wasn’t protected by federal labor law.
The posters were timed to the flu season in early 2011. They protested the company’s policy against workers calling in sick without finding replacements to take their shifts, and accused the company of putting the health of its customers at risk. The poster features two identical photos of Jimmy John’s sandwiches but said one was made by a healthy worker and one was made by a sick worker.
“Can’t tell the difference?” the poster read. “That’s too bad because Jimmy John’s workers don’t get paid sick days. Shoot, we can’t even call in sick. We hope your immune system is ready because you’re about to take the sandwich test.”
The poster and a press release were distributed to more than 100 local and national news organizations, and the IWW threatened wider distribution if its demands were not met.
U.S. factory activity near 3-year high
WASHINGTON >> U.S. factories expanded at a robust pace in June, a potential sign of strength for the economy as new orders, production and employment each improved.
The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its manufacturing index rose to 57.8 last month from 54.9 in May. Anything above 50 signals that factory activity is increasing. The measure now stands at its highest level since August 2014, pointing to solid economic growth.
ON THE MOVE
Bank of Hawaii has announced the following new vice presidents:
>> Charlyn Ishihara has been promoted to vice president and trust operations section manager in Securities Services from assistant vice president and trust operations section supervisor. She has 28 years of bank operations experience and joined Bank of Hawaii in 1989.
>> Jason Mitchell has been promoted to vice president and operations manager from assistant vice president and process manager. While managing the ACH operations team, he will also handle debit card and EFT disputes at the Dispute Processing Center. Mitchell has 19 years of financial services experience in Hawaii and California. He joined Bank of Hawaii in 2006 as a Merchant Services sales representative and in 2011 became a card operations manager at the Dispute Processing Center.
