New York City, USA – Amazon.com, SpaceX, and Trader Joe’s are all taking aim at the National Labor Relations Board, arguing that the enforcement proceedings of the top U.S. labor regulator violate the Constitution. Amazon filed a claim arguing that the NLRB’s structure is unconstitutional because it denies the company’s right to a jury trial, while SpaceX and Trader Joe’s have made similar arguments.
In the case of Amazon, the claim came about due to an ongoing case accusing the company of retaliating against workers in a New York City warehouse who voted to unionize. This legal challenge is just one of the over 250 NLRB complaints that Amazon has faced in recent years, all of which the company has vehemently denied.
Notably, SpaceX is also in the midst of a legal battle with the NLRB after the board accused the company of unlawfully firing eight employees for speaking out against founder and CEO Elon Musk. This case was filed in Texas but has now been transferred to California, where SpaceX is headquartered.
Furthermore, Trader Joe’s and two Starbucks baristas seeking to dissolve their unions have also brought challenges against the constitutionality of the NLRB’s structure, adding to the growing tension between major companies and the labor regulator.
The NLRB’s general counsel acts as a prosecutor in cases against employers accused of violating federal labor law, and the outcome of the legal challenges from Amazon, SpaceX, Trader Joe’s, and others could potentially impact the balance of power in labor relations between companies and unions.
With the possibility that these cases could end up before the Supreme Court, the outcome will be closely watched as it could have far-reaching implications for labor unions, collective bargaining, and the enforcement powers of the NLRB.