The National Labor Relations Board is looking into Barstool Sports’ labor practices after the president of Barstool Dave Portnoy threatened to fire employees who attempt to unionize.
Portnoy said earlier this week he would fire anyone on the spot who attempted to contact writer Rafi Letzter about how to start the unionization process.
If you work for @barstoolsports and DM this man I will fire you on the spot https://t.co/u9vG3VgfV1
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) August 13, 2019
The Hollywood Reporter obtained a copy of charging papers given to the NLRB against Barstool filed by the Committee to Preserve the Religious Right to Organize. The NLRB said it had received the charging papers and had written and sent a letter to Barstool asking for a response.
The charging papers state, “Within the last six months, Barstool Sports, affiliated with the Chernin Group, through its crazed president, Dave Portnoy, has threatened to discipline employees on account o[f] Union and/or protected activity. The Charging Party seeks as relief that Mr. Portnoy be required to tweet and otherwise publicize his severe and sincere apology and to post the appropriate Notice on the public website.
“He should be required to read the Notice to all employees and make a public announcement about the Notice on his media locations of any nature,” the papers continued.
The NLRB will likely come to a decision on the charge against Barstool within a few months.
Portnoy’s attack against unionization drew ire from the Left, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said he “can be sued” by his employees.
The Barstool president responded by saying Ocasio-Cortez “just jumped in the fray like an idiot.”
