NLRB Directs Union Election for Fort Stewart Janitorial Workers Following Contractor Objection Ruling

On February 6, 2026, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Regional Director Matthew J. Turner issued a Decision and Direction of Election for janitorial employees at Residential Enhancements, Inc., d/b/a RE Global, working at Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools on Fort Stewart Army base in Georgia. The decision came after the Industrial, Technical and Professional Employees Union, OPEIU Local 4873 filed a representation petition on January 7, 2026, seeking to represent employees under federal contract number HE125425CE005.

The employer, a Georgia corporation providing facility support services and property administration to DODEA schools, raised procedural objections arguing the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) failed to disclose a predecessor contractor's collective-bargaining agreement. Residential Enhancements requested that the NLRB postpone the petition pending resolution of its dispute with FAR, or alternatively dismiss the petition as premature, contending that certification would retroactively cure the disclosure failure and impose new statutory obligations.

Regional Director Turner rejected these arguments, finding that the parties had stipulated that no collective-bargaining agreement currently exists, rendering the disclosure issue moot. The decision noted that no evidence demonstrated procedural or substantive defects within the NLRB's processes, and the employer failed to establish how the FAR dispute would substantially affect the election environment or employees' free choice.

The NLRB will conduct a mail ballot election for approximately 16 eligible voters in the following bargaining unit: all full-time and regular part-time janitorial employees working at schools at Fort Stewart under federal contract number HE125425CE005 and successor government contract numbers, excluding all other employees, clerical employees, professionals, managers, guards, and supervisors as defined by the National Labor Relations Act.

Key dates for the election include:

• Voter Eligibility: Payroll period ending January 31, 2026
• Ballots Mailed: February 20, 2026 at 12:00 PM
• Ballot Deadline: Ballots must arrive before counting date
• Ballot Count: March 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Region 10 office in Atlanta

Under NLRB regulations, the employer must provide a comprehensive voter list by February 10, 2026, containing employees' full names, work locations, shifts, job classifications, home addresses, available personal email addresses, and available home and personal cell telephone numbers. The employer is also required to post Notice of Election materials at least three full working days prior to the election.

The case highlights unique challenges in labor relations involving federal service contractors. Under FAR Section 22.1008-2, contracting officers must determine whether a predecessor contract exists covered by the Service Contract Labor Standards statute and whether incumbent contractors have collective bargaining agreements. When such agreements exist, FAR Section 22.1002-3 requires successor contractors to pay wages and fringe benefits at least equal to those in predecessor collective bargaining agreements.

The employer's argument centered on alleged FAR disclosure failures regarding these requirements. However, the Regional Director determined that because parties stipulated no current collective bargaining agreement exists, the disclosure issue did not warrant postponing the election process.

The petitioning union, Industrial, Technical and Professional Employees Union, OPEIU Local 4873, is affiliated with the Office and Professional Employees International Union, part of the AFL-CIO. Founded in 1967, ITPEU represents workers across approximately 250 bargaining units in various industries. The union operates primarily in the southern United States with offices in Savannah, Georgia, and represents service workers, clerical staff, and technical employees in both private and government contracting sectors.

The affected employees work at Department of Defense Education Activity schools at Fort Stewart, which serve military-connected students in prekindergarten through grade 6. Fort Stewart Schools are part of DoDEA's Americas Southeast District and include three elementary schools: Charles P. Murray Elementary School, Diamond Elementary School, and Kessler Elementary School. DoDEA operates 163 accredited schools in eight districts across 11 countries, seven U.S. states, Guam, and Puerto Rico, serving approximately 71,000 children of active duty military and DoD civilian families.

Key Points

• Regional Director rejected employer arguments that Federal Acquisition Regulation disclosure failures warranted postponing union election proceedings
• Mail ballot election ordered for approximately 16 janitorial employees at Fort Stewart DODEA schools
• Parties stipulated no current collective bargaining agreement exists, rendering disclosure dispute moot
• NLRB procedures found procedurally sound with no basis for delay
• Election scheduled with ballots mailed February 20, 2026, and counted March 16, 2026
• Bargaining unit limited to janitorial employees under federal contract HE125425CE005 and successor contracts

Primary Source Author: Matthew J. Turner, Regional Director

Primary Source: NLRB Region 10 Decision and Direction of Election, Case 10-RC-378390

Primary Source Link: https://apps.nlrb.gov/link/document.aspx/09031d45841ba4ac

Supplemental Links

• National Labor Relations Board - Regional Election Decisions
• NLRB Representation Case Procedures
• National Labor Relations Act
• Industrial, Technical & Professional Employees Union, OPEIU Local 4873
• Federal Acquisition Regulation - FAR 22.1008-2
• Federal Acquisition Regulation - FAR 22.1002-3
• DoDEA Fort Stewart Schools
• Office and Professional Employees International Union
• NLRB Election Procedures - Wikipedia
• Department of Defense Education Activity