Paulsen v. PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc.

216 F. Supp. 3d 259, 207 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3434, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 146786, 2016 WL 6205796
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedOctober 24, 2016
Docket16 Civ. 5338 (BMC)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 216 F. Supp. 3d 259 (Paulsen v. PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Paulsen v. PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc., 216 F. Supp. 3d 259, 207 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3434, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 146786, 2016 WL 6205796 (E.D.N.Y. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER

COGAN, District Judge

Before the Court is a petition for a preliminary injunction under § 10(j) of the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) filed by James G. Paulsen, the Regional Director of Region 29 of the National Labor Relations Board (the “NLRB” or the “Board”). The petition seeks relief pending the determination by an Administrative Law Judge over proceedings currently underway, in which petitioner claims that respondent PrimeFlight Aviation Services, Inc. (“PrimeFlight”) has engaged and is engaging in unfair labor practices within the meaning of §§ 8(a)(1) and (5) of the [263]*263NLRA. See 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), (5). Petitioner seeks an injunction restraining respondent from further violations of the NLRA; directing respondent to recognize and bargain with the Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ (the “Union” or “SEIU”), as required under § 8(a)(5); and requiring respondent to provide information relevant to the Union’s collective bargaining efforts.

The Court ordered respondent to show cause why it should not grant the relief requested. Having heard oral argument on the petition and reviewed the parties’ submissions, the Court concludes that petitioner has established reasonable cause for the Court to believe that PrimeFlight has committed unfair labor practices and that injunctive relief is just and proper. The petition is therefore granted in part.

BACKGROUND

JetBlue Airways Corporation (“Jet-Blue”) operates out of Terminal Five at John F. Kennedy Airport (“JFK”) in Queens, New York. As part of its operations, JetBlue, through independent contractors, offers baggage handling, skycap, checkpoint, and wheelchair services to its customers. Prior to May 9, 2016, Air Serv, an independent contractor, performed the baggage handling, skycap, and checkpoint services for JetBlue, and PAX Assist, another independent contractor, performed the wheelchair services for JetBlue. During this period, SEIU represented Air Serv employees in collective bargaining pursuant to a March 2015 recognition agreement, whereas PAX Assist employees had no union affiliation.

Respondent PrimeFlight is an independent contractor that provides terminal services at several airports around the country. In early 2016, PrimeFlight successfully bid on a contract to provide Jet-Blue’s terminal services at Terminal Five at JFK. PrimeFlight entered into a contract with JetBlue, under which PrimeF-light was to provide baggage handling, skycap, checkpoint, and wheelchair services. On May 9, 2016, PrimeFlight took over these services from both Air Serv and PAX Assist in Terminal Five and continues to provide all four types of terminal services to date.

In the weeks leading up to the May 9, 2016 transition date, PrimeFlight hired its workforce. To hire its workforce and ensure no gap in services between Air Serv and PAX Assist ceasing operations on May 8 and PrimeFlight beginning operation on May 9, PrimeFlight asked Air Serv to provide PrimeFlight with its lists of active Air Serv employees. PrimeFlight, concerned with ensuring that it had enough qualified employees—ie., employees with the credentials required to pass through airport security—asked Air Serv to encourage its employees to apply for positions with PrimeFlight.

When PrimeFlight began operations on May 9, 2016, it had hired 362 employees in total. More than half of those employees were former Air Serv employees (189 of 362, or 52%). Further, on May 9, 2016, PrimeFlight had employees in all four job classifications—baggage handling: 76 employees; skycap: 35 employees; checkpoint: 64 employees; and wheelchair: 174 employees. By July 2016, PrimeFlight would ultimately employ 507 individuals- in all four classifications—baggage handling: 81 employees; skycap: 35 employees; checkpoint: 67 employees; and wheelchair: ■ 309 employees. Comparing the numbers of employees initially hired against the ultimate employment rolls, on May 9, 2016, PrimeFlight" had hired at least fifty percent of the employees that it would ultimately employ in all four job classifications—baggage handling: 76 of 81, or- 94%; skycap: 35 of 35, or 100%; [264]*264checkpoint: 64 of 67, or 95%; and wheelchair: 174 of 309, or 56%. Overall, as of May 9, 2016, PrimeFlight had hired more than half of the employees that it would ultimately employ—362 of 507, or 71%.

On May 23, 2016, SEIU sent a letter to PrimeFlight, demanding that PrimeFlight recognize SEIU as the representative of “PrimeFlight’s employees at JFK Airport, the majority of whom were formerly Air Serv employees represented by Local 32BJ.” The letter continued that “these are employees working at Terminal Five on the Jet Blue account” and are “providing baggage handling, skycap and check point services;” SEIU’s letter stated that it understood that “the appropriate bargaining unit also includes employees providing wheelchair assistance.” SEIU requested “recognition for a unit of all full-time and regular part-time employees at Terminal Five on the Jet Blue account, excluding supervisors, office clericals, and guards as defined in the NLRA.”1 In addition, SEIU requested certain information from Pri-meFlight, including a roster of all bargaining unit employees, applicable employee handbooks, and plan descriptions for health insurance and employee benefits.

On May 25, 2016, PrimeFlight replied to SEIU, requesting evidence that established the basis for SEIU’s claim that it represented the employees at issue, including Board certifications and collective bargaining agreements. On June 2, 2016, SEIU replied to PrimeFlight, enclosing a copy of its March 2015 recognition agreement with Air Serv. PrimeFlight replied again on June 10, 2016, seeking any additional agreements between the parties or any collective bargaining agreements for any of its employees. On June 15, 2016, the Union replied to PrimeFlight, stating that it had already provided sufficient information and that it would provide additional material once PrimeFlight recognized the Union. There was no further correspondence between the Union and PrimeFlight after this letter.

On May 26, 2016, three days after SEIU’s May 23, 2016 request for recognition, PrimeFlight began to hire additional employees. PrimeFlight completed all of its hiring on July 6, 2016, having hired 507 employees in total. As a result of this hiring, former Air Serv employees comprised 39.4% of the total hired. In its submissions to the Court, PrimeFlight stated that on taking over on May 9, 2016, it determined that it needed 500 employees and that it intended to hire more employees in two phases: one in mid-to-late June and one in July.

In July, the NLRB filed an administrative complaint under the NLRA against PrimeFlight, and the administrative hearing related to that charge is currently underway.

DISCUSSION

Section 10(j) of the NLRA provides that the NLRB may petition the local district court “for appropriate temporary relief or restraining order” pending the Board’s final adjudication of a charge of unfair labor practices. 29 U.S.C. § 160(j).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
216 F. Supp. 3d 259, 207 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3434, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 146786, 2016 WL 6205796, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/paulsen-v-primeflight-aviation-services-inc-nyed-2016.