Troy, N.Y. - The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on April 10 accepted the request by SEIU Local 200United to cancel the secret ballot election, scheduled to take place at Rensselaer on April 15. The NLRB accepted the union's request with the stipulation that the union cannot seek another petition for an extended period of time.

The original vote, scheduled to have taken place Jan. 16, was canceled due to charges filed by SEIU Local 200United, which was seeking to become the collective bargaining unit for approximately 97 Rensselaer employees.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) dismissed those unfair labor practice charges against Rensselaer, and will not proceed on any of the allegations filed against the university. The acting regional director of the NLRB, based in Buffalo, investigated the charges through its local office in Albany, and decided that the suggestions of improper conduct by Rensselaer officials were completely without merit or did not warrant further action.

"During the past three years, this union has petitioned the board twice for representation of our workers," said Curtis Powell, vice president of human resources at Rensselaer. "This decision sends a very clear message that our employees do not want to be represented by a union. We are extremely pleased that our employees have displayed confidence in our managers, and we will continue to work directly and cooperatively with our employees to assure high quality working conditions, opportunities, wages and benefits."

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu