National Labor Relations Board v. Washington Aluminum Co.

After repeated unresolved complaints about a poorly heated machine shop, seven employees of Washington Aluminum Company (defendant) walked out together on an unusually cold day; the company's president fired them for leaving without authorization. The NLRB (plaintiff) found the walkout was protected concerted activity under Section 7 of the Act and ordered reinstatement, but the court of appeals reversed, reasoning the employees never gave the company a specific demand and a chance to fix the problem before walking out, and the NLRB appealed.