A federal judge has temporarily blocked New York State from enforcing a new law that would allow the state’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to hear private-sector labor cases, a move Amazon.com argued would illegally interfere with federal labor regulations.
U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee in Brooklyn granted Amazon a preliminary injunction last Wednesday, marking the first significant test of the state law, which was designed to address a backlog of cases at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) caused by staffing shortages.
Background of the Law
The New York legislation, signed by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul on September 5, allows PERB to handle private-sector labor disputes when the federal NLRB lacks a quorum to act. The law was introduced in response to a series of NLRB delays after former President Donald Trump removed Democratic board member Gwynne Wilcox in January, leaving the agency without enough members to rule on certain cases.
A similar law was enacted in California in October, prompting the NLRB to file legal challenges against both states, arguing that such laws interfere with federally governed labor relations.
Judge Cites Federal Precedent
Judge Komitee, a Trump appointee, referenced a 1959 Supreme Court precedent in ruling that Amazon was likely to succeed in its argument that federal labor law prevents states from regulating private-sector labor disputes. Komitee noted that while Congress anticipated temporary quorum shortages at the NLRB, there is no reason to believe these shortages would continue indefinitely.
The judge also cited potential “irreparable harm” to Amazon if PERB were allowed to proceed, including the risk of conflicting rulings between state and federal labor boards.
Case Centered on Union Firing
The injunction stems from a case concerning the August 9 dismissal of Brima Sylla, a local union vice president at Amazon’s JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island—the company’s only unionized U.S. facility. Amazon sought to prevent PERB from hearing the case, arguing that it falls under federal jurisdiction.
The backlog at the NLRB currently includes numerous disputes in which employers are challenging union election outcomes. Meanwhile, Wilcox has filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement to her NLRB position, though the Supreme Court allowed her removal to stand while her case is pending.
Trump has nominated two lawyers to fill NLRB vacancies, aiming to restore quorum and secure a Republican majority, which could influence the handling of pending labor disputes.
Implications
The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal oversight of labor relations. While New York and California have attempted to step in when the NLRB lacked the ability to act, federal law continues to take precedence, and courts are closely examining the limits of state authority over private-sector labor disputes.
Amazon’s injunction ensures that PERB cannot hear the Sylla case while the federal court evaluates the legality of the New York law, potentially setting a precedent for how states may—or may not—intervene in labor matters traditionally governed at the federal level.
If you want, I can also rewrite this into a longer, more detailed article that includes background on Amazon’s labor relations, NLRB history, and how this could affect union activity nationwide. Do you want me to do that?