Attorney Catherine Terrell Hits the Ground Running With Swift Victory in Election Case for UFCW, Local 1445

On July 23, 2024, a Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board issued a ruling summarily dismissing the frivolous election objections and exceptions filed by cannabis retailer Curaleaf and thus certified UFCW, Local 1445 as the exclusive representative of the employees at Curaleaf's Oxford, Mass., dispensary. The case was the first formal decision (and victory) for Pyle Rome attorney Catherine Terrell in the short time since she joined the firm.

Notwithstanding the histrionics showed by the employer's counsel at the post-election hearing in seeking to expand the case, the sole issue in dispute was Curaleaf's specious contention that the Board agent running the election somehow acted improperly when he answered a phone call from Union counsel Alex Robertson relating to a procedural matter. The evidence plainly established that, less than 30 seconds after answering the call, the Board agent invited the employer's counsel to join the conversation and that nothing about the brief interaction impacted the fairness of the election. The Regional Director's decision affirmed that the Board agent followed standard procedure and that the employer failed to demonstrate even a shred of evidence that the Board agent acted improperly. Indeed, the hearing officer noted that the employer failed to present a single authority supporting its preposterous objection.

The employees, who overwhelmingly voted to be represented by Local 1445, will now have the opportunity to negotiate their first collective bargaining agreement.