Wells Fargo reaches settlement with Hillsboro employees over union-busting claims

Published 3:45 pm Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Wells Fargo must now inform its Hillsboro employees of their rights to participate in union activities after a recent unfair labor practice dispute was resolved.

Employees at the Wells Fargo William Barnhart call center reached a settlement with the bank Friday, Dec. 1. Under the settlement, Wells Fargo must inform workers of their right to organize through facility-wide emails and in-person posted notices.

The development comes in light of three Unfair Labor Practice charges against the fourth-largest bank in the United States, in which employees alleged that managers routinely tore down union flyers and implied that workers would be reprimanded for posting them. The National Labor Relations Board found the bank illegally restricted workers’ right to join together in a union.

Cole Weber, a disputes escalations team lead at the Hillsboro call center, brought unfair labor charges forward after he was prohibited from wearing and giving out union-related shirts. Later on, Weber said management told him that he could not post pro-union flyers outside his cubicle.

“The settlement is a huge step because one of the biggest factors that has limited our ability to form a union is people are scared,” Weber said. “It helps people understand that their rights are protected — that they are safe to organize and engage without fearing for their jobs.”

Debbie Warren, another Hillsboro call center employee, experienced similar friction from management. When Warren was hanging flyers supporting union efforts, she was told that she needed approval to have the content posted at her desk, she said. She also added she saw flyers in non-work areas being taken down.

“The settlement is pretty much Wells Fargo saying that they will not in any way interfere or restrict posting of flyers or discussions about union organizing efforts,” she said.

Union discussions have developed over issues seen over the past few years, including concerns with pay, benefits and working conditions. Notably, employees at the call center in Hillsboro brought up issues of having to work in close quarters during the COVID-19 pandemic due to work-from-home not being offered.

Weber said the bank has found itself entangled with a number of fraud scandals spanning back to the 2010s, and he said Wells Fargo’s muddled history of failing to protect consumers shows the need for a union.

“It is difficult to communicate to management. It is difficult to get any changes made,” Weber said. “And so with a union, we can actually use that power to honestly help Wells Fargo function better.”

In response to the settlement and the union, a Wells Fargo spokesperson said, “We are pleased to have resolved this matter and we continue our commitment to our employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act.”A Broader MovementThe recent settlement marks the second time that Wells Fargo has reached a deal after workers filed labor complaints. Earlier this year, the San Francisco-based bank agreed to a similar settlement with workers in Salt Lake City.

Hillsboro’s recent developments also come on the heels of workers at branches in Alaska and New Mexico filing for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board — cementing the first efforts ever at Wells Fargo. Workers in Florida also just filed for union election on Tuesday, Dec. 6.Warren said the bank organizing efforts are becoming more challenging as Wells Fargo consolidates operations in Oregon. According to Warren, the bank closed the Sunset call center and moved employees into the Barnhart location, and a number of departments have been notified of layoffs coming in the first few months of 2024.

“Some people have already given up hope,” she said. “They’re thinking, ‘well, I already know I’m not going to have a job. It’s not worth it.’”

As for the immediate future, workers plan to continue discussions but do not see a call for an election anytime soon. With some employees working at home while others are in the office, Weber said it has been a challenge to make major waves.

“It does make organizing difficult because it’s harder to connect with people in person, which is really how a lot of organizing gets done,” Weber said.