Home Depot’s firing over ‘BLM’ apron violates the law, union committees say

NEW YORK (AP) – The National Labor Board ruled Wednesday that Home Depot violated federal labor law by firing a employee for refusing to remove a hand-drawn acronym “BLM” for “Black Lives Matter” from his work apron.

The National Labor Relations Act states that it protects the right of staff to have interaction in “coordinated action” for the “mutual assistance or protection” whether or not they’re represented by a union.

Management argued that the decision by the worker – identified as Antonio Morales – to place the acronym BLM on his apron was a direct response to complaints of racial discrimination at the store and is protected under federal law. It was also an attempt by Morales to bring the complaints to the attention of Home Depot managers.

“It is well known that workers have the right to organize to improve their working conditions, including by protesting against racial discrimination in the workplace,” President Lauren McFerran said in an announcement. “It is equally clear that an employee who individually acts to support a collective protest over workplace issues remains protected by law.”

In an announcement emailed to The Associated Press on Wednesday, Atlanta-based Home Depot said it disagreed with the NLRB’s decision.

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“Home Depot is fully committed to diversity and respect for all people,” the company said. “We do not tolerate any type of harassment or discrimination in the workplace.”

The right to wear clothing with BLM insignia or other social justice-related clothing in the workplace has turn into a serious issue in the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May 2020.

In the same yr American airlines announced it will allow employees to wear Black Lives Matter pins on their uniforms, calling it a difficulty of equality, not politics. The company joins Starbucks, Delta Air Lines and other large corporations that allow employees to wear clothing in support of the movement protesting police violence against black people.