Pittsburgh refugee nonprofit Hello Neighbor bids goodbye to NLRB charge with $198K settlement

A Pittsburgh nonprofit that provides services to refugees has settled a labor dispute with workers and agreed to pay nearly $200,000 in back pay and wage increases following a complaint filed last year.

Hello Neighbor, based in the city’s Larimer neighborhood, faced charges of unfair labor practices in February 2023. The charges alleged that the nonprofit unlawfully terminated five employees for their union support, as well as a supervisor for failing to commit unfair labor practices, and denied wage increases to 22 employees, according to the National Labor Relations Board.

The board announced Tuesday that Hello Neighbor reached a settlement earlier this month that provides over $198,000 to the employees. The amount includes back pay, wage increases, interest, and compensation. The settlement also requires the nonprofit to rescind discipline and provide a neutral reference for all of the terminated employees and the supervisor.

The Pittsburgh-based United Steelworkers labor union filed the charges against Hello Neighbor in February 2023 on behalf of the nonprofit’s workers. A month before, workers at Hello Neighbor sought to unionize with the Steelworkers.

Hello Neighbor provides social services for refugees and immigrants around Pittsburgh, including a mentorship program to match native Pittsburghers with refugees who have resettled in the region.

“This settlement vindicates employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act by achieving significant monetary remedies for direct or foreseeable harms, along with provisions to ensure the employer’s future compliance with the Act,” said the labor board’s Nancy Wilson, director of the Pittsburgh office.

In a statement, the nonprofit said it agreed to the settlement to “respect the decision of our staff” and because the Steelworkers agreed to waive its challenge to the unionization vote. The union’s challenge claimed that Hello Neighbor CEO Sloane Davidson interfered in workers’ rights to a free and fair election.

Hello Neighbor said the settlement avoids expensive and drawn-out litigation and certifies the staff election results that showed Hello Neighbor employees rejected forming a union with the Steelworkers.

“Hello Neighbor is in the interest of doing what is best for our clients and our staff who know them best,” said the nonprofit in a statement. “Hello Neighbor remains focused on our work to welcome new neighbors in Pittsburgh.”

United Steelworkers Director of Organizing Maria Somma said the settlement vindicates the union’s complaint.

“We hope that they have learned their lesson and will not force the NLRB to intervene again because of management’s union busting tactics,” Somma said. “Workers at Hello Neighbor deserve to choose to unionize without being terrorized from their employer, and the (Steelworkers) will be there to assist them whenever they need us. “