Court backs ruling that says Kravis Center negotiated in 'bad faith' with stagehands ($6 M back pay)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpkravis0101pnjan04,0,936206.story

Center may owe up to $6 million to fired workers

By Jane Musgrave | The Palm Beach Post
January 4, 2009

In a ruling that could put millions into the pockets of hundreds of stagehands who lost their jobs at the Kravis Center eight years ago, an appeals court last week found that the performing arts hall engaged in unfair labor practices and ordered it to reinstate union workers.

"They lost every single point," said Alan Glassman, business manager for the local stagehands union. "As far as we're concerned, it's over. It would be smart for them to say they lost and start negotiating with us. But with them you never know. They've thrown so much money at this."

Neither Kravis Center Executive Director Judith Mitchell nor the Kansas City attorney who represented the center in its estimated $1 million legal fight was available to comment.

Attorney Matthew Mierzwa, who represents the union, said Kravis officials could ask the U.S. District Court of Appeals in Washington to reconsider its decision, announced Tuesday. Or, he said, they could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. But, he said, either action would be a waste of time and money.

"I would guess there is no chance to get this overturned," he said. "The chance of the appeals court changing its mind or the Supreme Court taking jurisdiction is impossible."

The Kravis Center failed to convince a Miami administrative law judge or the National Labor Relations Board that it was justified when it walked away from contract negotiations in 2000. It fired six full-time workers who were members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Technicians and Allied Crafts. It stopped using union workers on shows as it had since the center opened in 1992.


FULL story at link.