McKay’s Books Violated Federal Labor Law, Faces Government Complaint

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a complaint against McKay’s Books, Inc., for violating federal labor law and the rights of its union employees at its Knoxville store.

Workers at McKay’s Books Inc. in Knoxville, Tenn., are represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3805. CWA first filed a complaint against the company for unlawfully discriminating against the union workers in Knoxville and bargaining in bad faith in August 2023. When the company retaliated against a member of the union bargaining team, the union filed additional charges against McKay’s in November 2023.

The federal labor board investigated the charges and found merit to issue a complaint against McKay’s Books Inc. for:

• Discharging a member of the union bargaining committee without just cause in retaliation for his union activity; and
• Bargaining in bad faith by refusing to meet at reasonable times and at reasonable intervals; and
• Discriminating against workers for their union membership by giving non-union stores premium pay for the 2023 Labor Day holiday and granting a cost-of-living adjustment in 2024, while excluding workers at the union store.

The federal labor board seeks reinstatement of the unjustly fired worker, Blake Lemons, and backpay for his lost wages. Additionally, the labor board is seeking an order directing McKay's to engage in meaningful bargaining on a schedule for a 24-month period and to provide bargaining updates to the NLRB during that period.

“I joined the union because every dedicated employee at McKay’s deserves dignity, respect, and the security of a union contract that guarantees just cause,” said Blake Lemons, a member of the union bargaining committee with 21 years of service at McKay’s who was unlawfully fired in retaliation for his union activity. “I look forward to getting back to the job I love, serving my customers, and negotiating a union contract that protects my coworkers from going through the unjust treatment I received for standing with my union. It’s time for a fair contract, and we won’t back down until we get it.”

“It is unfortunate that McKay’s owners have put more effort into fighting workers’ clear choice for a union instead of joining us at the bargaining table to negotiate a contract that will improve the Knoxville store,” said Ray Mehaffey, president of CWA Local 3805. “It was no accident that McKay’s owners cynically used Labor Day to discriminate against union workers and sow division between stores when all McKay’s workers want dignity and respect on the job.”

The union workers have been bargaining with their employer for a first union contract since February 2023, and are now in their 30th month of negotiations. For decades, the workers have served readers and hobbyists in the community by providing excellent service to customers and ensuring McKay’s reputation as a beloved institution to access a wide variety of affordable second-hand books and other forms of entertainment. Unfortunately, this has come at a cost for the workers who are overworked, underpaid, and mistreated. The workers are bargaining for a union contract that will guarantee respect and dignity on the job.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion