Dollar General store violated federal law by attempting to stop union efforts, judge finds

A Dollar General store in Connecticut violated federal labor law and interfered with worker rights in efforts to block unionization efforts, a National Labor Relations Board judge said Monday.

The Dolgen Corp., which operates the Dollar General store in Barkhamsted, Conn., as well as other locations, will need to take steps to improve the situation, reports U.S. News & World Report.

Dollar General has not responded to a request for comment.

Workers at the Connecticut store narrowly rejected becoming a union back in October 2021. The Dollar General store, however, took part in a number of actions to prevent the formation of the union, according to the ruling. 

According to the National Labor Relations Board ruling, the store wrongfully fired an employee and ownership threatened to close the store if a union was approved. Workers were also required to attend meetings which discouraged unionization.

“The unfair labor practices herein involve individuals at the highest levels of Dolgen management,” Judge Arthur Amchan wrote. “They were also committed pursuant to a corporate policy as to how to deal with organizing efforts by Dollar General employees.”

Now Dolgen Corp. needs to make the environment at the store right again. The National Labor Relations Board judge ordered the store to reinstate the terminated employee and send a letter to its other stores informing them of the labor law and employee rights violations. The judge added that Dolgen should be required to cease-and-desist from any discriminatory action against employees for engaging in union activity moving forward.

Related:Dollar General safety violations are not slowing down

“In 2021, our Barkhamsted employees voted against union representation and in favor of working directly with the company. At no time during this election did Dollar General violate the National Labor Relations Act,” Dollar General said in an email statement to Supermarket News. 

“We believe the ALJ’s decision misapplies the law and ignores, and in some instances incorrectly states, the facts of this case, and we intend to appeal.”

Outside of unionization, Dollar General has faced multiple penalties for store safety over the years — including federal citations for blocking fire exits and merchandise stacked too high. As of June, the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration had proposed more than $21 million in penalties for the company since 2017, after  conducting over 240 store inspections nationwide.

In October 2022, Dollar General was added to OSHA’s “Severe Violator Enforcement Program,” a label given to repeat violators that have safety issues which have not been addressed.