Catherwood LibraryILR School

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled this weekend in favor of landscapers over roofers for the second time in a row. Disputes have arisen between unionized roofers and unionized landscapers (represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, and the Teamsters) over who has the right to install green roofing systems involving creating 'vegetative spaces' on rooftops. Roofers have installed several in the state of Illinois in the last five years; landscapers have installed over 200. In September NLRB ruled in favor of Moore Landscaping Inc., but the dispute continued and another case made it to the NLRB. This weekend's decision went in favor of the Pederson (landscaping) Co. The landscapers hope the conflict has now been decided once and for all, but the roofers hope to continue the fight, saying that there are many issues left unaddressed by the NLRB rulings, including, for example, who would fix roof leaks if they were to arise in a green roof.