Law
Arizona tribes join battle over federal labor law


The Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O'odham Nation have joined a national lobbying campaign to keep federal labor law out of their businesses.

Leaders of the two tribes say it should be up to tribal governments to set own labor standards. "The federal labor laws don't apply to the state or other local municipalities; it should not apply to us," Pascua Yaqui Chairwoman Herminia Frias told The Arizona Daily Star.

The National Labor Relations Board doesn't see it that way. In a ruling that overturned 30 years of precedent, the board said tribal enterprises are subject to federal labor law if they employ non-Indians or affect non-Indians.

The ruling is being challenged in court but tribes also have asked Congress for a solution. They want to be treated the same as state and local governments under federal labor law.

Get the Story:
Tribes say no to feds (The Arizona Daily Star 8/6)

Hearing Video:
Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations - Hearing on H.R. 16, Tribal Labor Relations Restoration Act of 2005 (July 20, 2006)

Tribal Labor Bill:
Tribal Labor Relations Restoration Act of 2005 (H.R.16)

San Manuel Band v NLRB:
Briefs, Decisions and Documents (Native American Rights Fund)

National Labor Relations Board Decisions:
San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino | Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation

Relevant Links:
National Labor Relations Board - http://www.nlrb.gov
San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino - http://www.sanmanuel.com

Related Stories:
House panel debates controversial tribal labor measure (07/21)
Tribes take labor law battle to federal court (04/25)
NLRB reaffirms tribal sovereignty ruling (10/06)
Tribal labor law rider killed by wide margin in House (06/27)
Fight looms on tribal labor amendment in House (6/27
Republicans sign onto tribal labor law exemption bill (06/13)
California tribe's workers to negotiate union contract (05/05)
Unions turn on each other in tribal sovereignty clash (05/04)
Labor union challenges tribe's Indian preference (12/07)
Federal labor board to hold hearing involving tribe (12/6)
NCAI between 'rock and a hard place' on labor rider (09/13)
Tribal labor amendment fails in House vote (9/13)
Rep. J.D. Hayworth: I told you so! On tribal labor (06/25)
California tribe ponders next move in labor case (6/23)
Court ruling adds to debate over tribal-labor relations (06/14)
Editorial: Unions should be allowed at casinos (6/10)
Labor board ruling draws sharp barbs from tribes (6/9)
Labor board's tribal ruling a surprise to many (6/8)
Board rules tribes subject to labor law (6/4)
Arbiter allows pro-union flyers by tribal employees (03/26)
Pro-union hearing blasts Calif. tribe for sovereignty (03/17)
N.M. tribe seals winning case on labor laws (12/09)
Settlement pending in tribal labor dispute (08/07)
Court denies tribal exemption from labor laws (01/17)
Tribal labor bill draws complaints (04/18)
Pueblo wins sovereignty case (1/14)