Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Erosion of Tribal Sovereignty: Pechanga Led?

San Manuel takes care of their people, Pechanga hurt their people. Do you think that the court ruled against a good tribe, or to start taking the side of those who need help?


Court decision goes against San Manuel casino
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 12, 2007
By KIMBERLY PIERCEALLThe Press-Enterprise

A federal appeals court has refused to revisit a decision by a three-judge panel involving the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians that could have broad implications for tribal sovereignty and labor relations.
OP: Are you payint attention, Pechanga?

The tribe said Tuesday it was disappointed with the ruling but was not sure what its next move would be. One option could be an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"We've not had a chance to confer with our counsel or our governing body," said Jacob L. Coin, director of tribal communications.
Story continues below

2005 / The Press-Enterprise
An appeals court has refused to rehear a ruling by a three-judge panel in a case involving the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians that gives a federal labor board jurisdiction over tribal casinos.
If the ruling stands, it could force tribes to allow union organizers and picketing on their reservations -- long considered sovereign land not under federal oversight.
In 2004, the National Labor Relations Board ruled it had jurisdiction over the tribe's casinos after two labor unions clashed while attempting to organize casino workers.
According to a labor ordinance that was adopted when most tribes signed gambling compacts with the state in 2000, workers at tribal casinos are barred from striking and unfair labor complaints must be taken up with the tribal government, not the federal government.
While a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia agreed that tribal sovereignty should be preserved, it ruled in February that the National Labor Relations Board should have jurisdiction over tribal casinos because workers at the casinos are not necessarily members of a tribe.
On Friday, the full appeals court denied the tribe's request to hear their case.
Reach Kimberly Pierceall at 951-368-9552 or kpierceall@PE.com

No comments: