Snøhetta accused of laying off pro-union employees by National Labor Relations Board
The US National Labor Relations Board has filed a formal complaint against architecture studio Snøhetta, accusing the New York office of unlawfully dismissing eight employees following an attempt to unionise.
According to the New York Times, the complaint filed by a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional director on 16 January alleges the architecture studio "interrogated employees" regarding their union sympathies and laid off a group that supported organisational efforts.
Eight pro-union employees were reportedly laid off in Snøhetta's New York office just weeks after a formal attempt to create a union in 2023. According to the company the dismissals "were driven by business considerations".
"Any workforce reductions that have occurred since 2023 were driven by business considerations and implemented only after efforts were made to avoid layoffs," a spokesperson for Snøhetta told Dezeen.
However, according to the New York Times, the complaint references internal emails "made accessible to Snohetta employees, apparently inadvertently" relating to the intentions of the Snøhetta leadership, that apparently "alluded" to anti-union action.
"Now it's up to me to design some prophylaxis against any such future efforts," one Snøhetta director reportedly said in the evidentiary email chains.
The case will be heard in front of a labour board judge unless it is settled beforehand.
Snøhetta "retaliated against" unionising employees
The NLRB complaint builds on a case relating to unfair labour practice charges filed by pro-labour organisation Architectural Workers United (AWU) in 2023. The organisation, a sub-division of the national labour union the Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, was involved in supporting Snøhetta employees' attempt to unionise.
According to the AWU, the NLRB conducted an investigation into Snøhetta's practices and found them unlawful.
"The complaint alleges that Snøhetta actively targeted eight AWU supporters and retaliated against them by fraudulently claiming that they were being 'laid off'," said the AWU in an Instagram post.
"The complaint further alleges that Snøhetta unlawfully attempted to cover its tracks by offering small 'severance' payments in return for promises that the targeted employees would not exercise their rights under the NLRA (National Labor Relations Act)."
Internal list classified union supporters
Of the eight employees dismissed, seven were classified as union supporters on an internal list discovered within Snøhetta emails, while the eighth was classified as "undecided". This list was reviewed by managers, according to the New York Times report.
A source who worked at Snøhetta at the time and preferred to remain anonymous confirmed to Dezeen the complaint's accounts of internal emails used as evidence of the retaliatory action detailed in the New York Times Report.
The source also claimed they were pressed directly about their "thoughts on unionising", despite a right to secret ballots during unionisation under the NLRB.
Snøhetta told Dezeen that it supports the right to unionise and that the firings were part of a pre-existing company strategy.
"We have been clear about and very sensitive to employees' rights to explore unionization, have always sought to respect their rights under the National Labor Relations Act, and will continue to work constructively with its legal counsel and the NLRB as the matter moves through the appropriate process," a spokesperson for Snøhetta told Dezeen.
"Within this broader context, employees ultimately voted against unionization, and while there is a well-established process to raise or challenge concerns related to an election, at the time neither the union nor any employees pursued those channels or sought to overturn the results. We remain committed to fairness, dialogue, and supporting its teams."
"Violating these rights has consequences"
According to the AWU, if the complaint is sustained, "Snøhetta will be required to tender back pay to the targeted workers and offer them reinstatement to their former positions".
"The right to organize a union is a right all workers have, and violating these rights has consequences," strategic advisor for AWU CG Beck told Dezeen.
"In a labor town like NYC, elected officials in the city council and the mayor's administration should be working with architecture firms that support their own workers, not those that seek to punish them," he continued.
"We look forward to continuing the important work of organising our ongoing campaigns and invite not just elected officials, but workers in the building industry to join us."
Architecture unionisation in the US continues on an unpredictable path. Employees from SHoP Architects unsuccessfully attempted to unionise in 2022, while Bernheimer Architecture recently ratified a collective bargaining agreement.
The main image shows Snøhetta's 50 West 66th Street.
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