U.S. board impounds ballots in union-removal vote at Exxon refinery – Reuters

U.S. board impounds ballots in union-removal vote at Exxon refinery – Reuters

HOUSTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday impounded ballots that will decide whether the United Steelworkers (USW) continues to represent workers at an Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) oil refinery in southeast Texas, according to the union and company.

The NLRB has said it may impound the ballots while it reviews complaints filed by the USW union alleging Exxon barred workers from its Beaumont, Texas, plant on May 1 to break the union. The USW also charged the decertification campaign was improperly supported by the company.

Exxon spokesperson Julie King said the company was told by the NLRB on Wednesday morning the ballots had been impounded and would not be counted until further notice.