THE RUDNICK REPORT: A WEEKLY UPDATE ON THE NLRB
THE RUDNICK REPORT Weekly NLRB Update
November 17, 2025
Volume 1, Issue 1
Welcome to This Week's Edition
Dear Readers,
1. As the NLRB resumes full operations following its recent shutdown—reopening on November 13, 2025, with tolled due dates for filings and service—this edition of The Rudnick Report focuses on pivotal judicial developments shaping labor law enforcement.
2.The Board has yet to issue new decisions in October or November amid the disruption, but federal courts have been active, deepening circuit splits on remedies and employee expression. Below, we highlight four key cases from late October through early November, offering summaries, holdings, and practical implications for employers and unions alike. Stay tuned for post-reopening Board actions in coming weeks. As always, your feedback is welcome—reply to sandy@rudnickpro.com
Best regards,
Sanford Rudnick JD
H. Sanford Rudnick & Associates
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Recent Developments
3.Sixth Circuit Joins Third and Fifth in Rejecting NLRB's Expanded Remedies: NLRB v. Starbucks Corp. (Nov. 5, 2025)In a split decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld the NLRB's finding that Starbucks violated the NLRA by terminating a union-organizing barista in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but struck down the Board's award of "Thryv"-style expanded remedies.
4.The employee, fired in April 2022 after wearing union pins and participating in organizing efforts, was deemed discharged for protected activities. However, the court ruled that the NLRA's § 10(c) limits remedies to equitable relief like backpay and reinstatement, not compensatory damages for indirect harms such as childcare costs or rent penalties, citing Seventh Amendment concerns over jury trials. Implications: This aligns the Sixth Circuit with the Third and Fifth, creating a clear split with the Ninth Circuit (see below). Employers in these jurisdictions face narrower liability, but the uncertainty persists until Supreme Court intervention, potentially capping NLRB awards at status-quo restoration.
5. Ninth Circuit Upholds Expanded Remedies for Macy's Strikers: IUOE, Local 39 v. NLRB (Oct. 21, 2025)
6. Contrasting the growing opposition, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the NLRB's order requiring Macy's to compensate former strikers for foreseeable financial harms beyond traditional backpay, stemming from the retailer's refusal to rehire them post-strike. The decision emphasizes the Board's discretion to "make whole" employees under the NLRA, including indirect losses tied to unfair labor practices. Implications: This bolsters the NLRB's aggressive remedial stance in the West, heightening exposure for West Coast Employers.
7.The split—now Third, Fifth, and Sixth against Ninth—signals a likely Supreme Court showdown, urging multistate companies to revisit compliance strategies.
8. Eighth Circuit Greenlights Employer Restrictions on Employee Expression: NLRB v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. (Nov. 6, 2025)
9.The Eighth Circuit unanimously vacated an NLRB ruling that Home Depot unlawfully fired a Minnesota employee for refusing to remove a "Black Lives Matter" slogan from their work apron in 2021, amid post-George Floyd unrest. While the court sidestepped whether the display was protected concerted activity under Section 7, it held that the NLRB ignored "special circumstances" justifying the dress code ban, including political neutrality, employee safety, and customer relations in a tense environment. Implications: Employers gain leeway to enforce neutral policies during volatile periods, provided they document business justifications and apply rules consistently. However, in calmer times, broad prohibitions risk NLRB scrutiny—train managers on context-specific enforcement to avoid pitfalls.
10. Union Petitions Supreme Court to Curb Fifth Circuit's "Easy Injunctions" on NLRB Proceedings (Oct. 31, 2025)
11.The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) asked the Supreme Court to review Fifth Circuit rulings allowing employers to enjoin NLRB actions based solely on alleged unconstitutionality of Board members' and ALJs' job protections, without proving actual harm. This approach, diverging from six other circuits, has stalled routine cases in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, undermining Board functionality. Implications: A grant of certiorari could standardize injunctive relief standards nationwide, reducing forum-shopping and stabilizing NLRB operations. Unions and employees may see faster resolutions, while employers in the Fifth Circuit face interim uncertainty—monitor docket updates closely.
12. Quick Stats: NLRB Filings Snapshot (Post-Reopening Data Pending; Last Available: Week Ending Oct. 31, 2025)
Category
Filings
Change
Unfair Labor Practice (U) Charges
1,248
+4.2%
Representation (R) Petitions
312
-1.1%
Total Active Cases
22,456
+3.8%
Source: NLRB Weekly Reports
13.Looking Ahead: With the NLRB back online, expect a surge in decisions addressing queued matters, potentially revisiting remedies amid the circuit flux. Subscribe for free at sandy@rudnickpro.com
14.If your firm needs any assistance in understanding the above cases, negotiating a favorable contract or to go nonunion or any other labor relations issue, please call H. Sanford Rudnick JD of H. Sanford Rudnick & Associates or any other labor issue, please call 1-800-326-3046 or sandy@rudnickpro.com 24/7.
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If you have questions or would like to discuss your situation, I invite you to contact me for a confidential consultation. We'll take the time to understand your concerns, explain your options, and help you determine the best path forward.
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Union & Labor Law Expert
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