EmPower Solar Accused of Union Busting After Worker Furloughs
A solar panel company in New York faces allegations of union busting following the recent furlough of its employees after a unionization vote.
Alex Carter
- 2024-01-06
- Updated 07:27 AM ET
(NewsNibs) - New York-based EmPower Solar is under scrutiny after allegations surfaced that the company furloughed nearly half of its workforce in an act of union busting. Following a union election where workers voted to join UAW Local 259 on December 22, EmPower Solar furloughed 21 of its employees on December 30, which the union claims is a direct response to their unionizing efforts. These allegations are intensified by the involvement of National Labor Relations Advocates in opposing the union — a group known for union avoidance tactics.
Rallying Against Layoffs
In response to the furloughs, UAW Local 259 has scheduled a rally outside EmPower Solar's headquarters. The furloughed workers include staff like Daniel Lozano, a solar installer who was hired in April 2023 and had been earning $18.65 per hour, plus installation-based bonuses. The union has condemned the layoffs as a clear strategy of union suppression. Moreover, the workers were seeking better working conditions and job security through their organizing efforts, which were in part a response to the union claiming that EmPower Solar had filed an unfair labor practice charge against them alleging coercion before the election.
Legal and Economic Claims
EmPower Solar denies that the furloughs were related to the union vote, attributing the decision to economic downturn, high-interest rates, and inflation negatively impacting demand for their services. However, job listings for solar installers were posted on the company’s website shortly after the layoffs. The UAW has filed its own charges of unfair labor practices against EmPower, alleging layoffs and coercion and intimidation. This dispute occurs against a backdrop of only 4% of US solar workers being part of a union despite a push from labor unions and environmental groups for equitable transition to green jobs — a sentiment echoed by UAW’s president, Shawn Fain, during a US Senate hearing in November.
A Contest for Fair Employment in the Green Sector
The conflict at EmPower Solar highlights the broader struggle within the green energy sector for fair labor practices. As the industry grows, UAW Local 259's ongoing battle with EmPower Solar represents a significant moment for labor's role in the future of sustainable energy employment. Both sides show no sign of yielding, with the union persisting in its allegations of union busting, and the company maintaining its stance on the economic justification behind the furloughs.
