NLRB to order Evergreen/ILA negotiations

NLRB to order Evergreen/ILA negotiations    The National Labor Relations Board may order Evergreen America Corp. to negotiate with the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), the U.S. unit of the Taiwanese ocean carrier Evergreen said on Friday.
   The development follows last year's union recognition problems of port captains at Evergreen America.
   “The National Labor Relations Board has indicated that it may ask a U.S. District Court in New Jersey to force Evergreen America to begin collective bargaining with the ILA on behalf of clerical employees in Evergreen's office in Jersey City, N.Y.,” Evergreen said in a statement.
   Although Evergreen said that it will abide by the court's decision, it said that it believes the possible action by the NLRB to be 'without legal precedent.”
   If the court orders the collective bargaining, it will occur while the Labor Board reviews a secret-ballot vote by Evergreen's employees to reject union representation in 2002. “ILA Local 1964' ever since has been trying to overturn those election results,” Evergreen America alleged.