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States Court of Appeals","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"Argued May 12, 2026 Decided August 21, 2026","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"No. 24-1384","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"PREFERRED BUILDING SERVICES, INC.,","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"PETITIONER","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"v.","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD,","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"RESPONDENT","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 87,","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"INTERVENOR","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"Consolidated with 25-1042","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"On Petition for Review and Cross-Application","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"for Enforcement of an Order","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"of the National Labor Relations Board","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"Tyler M. Paetkau argued the cause and filed the briefs for","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"petitioner.","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"Joel A. Heller, Attorney, National Labor Relations Board,","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"2","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"Crystal S. Carey, General Counsel, Ruth E. Burdick, Deputy","paragraph_id":"para_21","court_paragraph":2},{"text":"Associate General Counsel, Meredith L. Jason, Assistant","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"General Counsel, and Elizabeth A. Heaney, Supervisory","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"Attorney.","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"Corinne Johnson argued the cause for respondent-","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"intervenor. With her on the brief were Stacey Leyton and John","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"D’Elia. Scott A. Kronland and Steven Ury entered","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"appearances.","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"Before: MILLETT, PILLARD, and WILKINS, Circuit Judges.","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge MILLETT.","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"MILLETT, Circuit Judge: Twelve years ago, a group of","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"janitors staged a series of pickets to protest their poor working","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"conditions at Preferred Building Services, Inc. (“Preferred”)","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"and Ortiz Janitorial Services (“Ortiz”). A local union assisted","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"the janitors’ protests. In response, Preferred and Ortiz fired","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"multiple employees who had picketed.","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"The union filed a charge with the National Labor Relations","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"Board, and the Board’s General Counsel issued a complaint","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"alleging that Preferred and Ortiz had committed a variety of","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"unfair labor practices proscribed by the National Labor","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"Relations Act. Before an administrative law judge (“ALJ”),","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"Preferred and Ortiz defended on the ground that the employees","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"themselves had violated the Act by engaging in unlawful","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"secondary and recognitional picketing. The administrative law","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"judge ruled in favor of the General Counsel, but the Board","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"reversed, holding that the employees had engaged in unlawful","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"secondary picketing, in violation of 29 U.S.C. § 158(b)(4).","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"3","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"The Ninth Circuit granted the union’s petition for review.","paragraph_id":"para_49","court_paragraph":3},{"text":"That court held that the Board lacked substantial evidence to","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"support its finding of secondary picketing.","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"On remand, Preferred argued that the ALJ had erroneously","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"prevented it from presenting evidence to support its secondary-","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"picketing defense, and it proffered evidence of an additional","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"picket that the ALJ had not considered. The Board took the","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"evidentiary proffer as true and determined that the new","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"evidence did nothing to substantiate the secondary-picketing","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"defense. The Board also rejected the recognitional-picketing","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"defense, held that Preferred and Ortiz had violated the Act, and","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"ordered a variety of remedies.","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"Preferred petitioned for review but Ortiz did not. The","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"Board cross-petitioned for enforcement. We deny Preferred’s","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"petition and grant the Board’s cross-petition.","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"I","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"A","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (“Act”)","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"guarantees employees the right “to engage in * * * concerted","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"activities for the purpose of collective bargaining[.]” 29 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"§ 157. Section 8 of the Act protects those rights against the","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"“unfair labor practice[s]” of both employers and labor","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"organizations. Id. § 158(a)–(b). Unfair labor practices include","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"interfering with an employee’s exercise of her rights under","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"Section 7, id. § 158(a)(1), and discharging an employee due to","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"her participation in a labor organization, id. § 158(a)(3).","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"Picketing generally qualifies as a protected concerted","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"activity. See United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO v.","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"NLRB, 376 U.S. 492, 499 (1964); Washington Serv.","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"4","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"Contractors Coalition v. District of Columbia, 54 F.3d 811,","paragraph_id":"para_79","court_paragraph":4},{"text":"816 (D.C. Cir. 1995). This case involves two exceptions to that","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"rule.","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"First, a labor organization’s picketing violates the Act if it","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"(1) “threaten[s], coerce[s], or restrain[s]” a neutral third party,","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"29 U.S.C. § 158(b)(4)(ii), with (2) the object of forcing that","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"neutral party to cease doing business with the employer, which","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"is referred to as the “primary employer,” id. § 158(b)(4)(ii)(B).","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"When picketing takes place at a site where both the primary","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"employer and a neutral “secondary” business operate, the","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"Board applies its test under Sailors Union of the Pacific (Moore","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"Dry Dock), 92 NLRB 547 (1950), to distinguish between","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"lawful “primary” picketing and unlawful “secondary”","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"picketing, id. at 549.","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"Moore Dry Dock sets out four factors that, when satisfied,","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"generate a presumption that picketing at the secondary","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"business’s premises was lawful. Moore Dry Dock, 92 NLRB","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"at 549; see Local 560, Int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters, 360","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"NLRB 1067, 1067 (2014). First, the picketing must be “strictly","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"limited to times when” the secondary business and primary","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"employer share a work site. Moore Dry Dock, 92 NLRB at","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"549; see District 29, United Mine Workers of America v. NLRB,","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"977 F.2d 1470, 1471 n.2 (D.C. Cir. 1992). Second, “at the time","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"of the picketing[,] the primary employer [must be] engaged in","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"its normal business” at the picketed location. Moore Dry Dock,","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"92 NLRB at 549. Third, the picketing must take place","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"“reasonably close” to the shared work site. Id. Fourth, “the","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"picketing [must] disclose[] clearly that the dispute is with the","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"primary employer.” Id. Even when all four factors are","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"satisfied, Board precedent allows the employer to rebut the","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"presumption by presenting independent evidence of an","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"impermissible secondary object of the picketing. Local 560,","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"Int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters, 360 NLRB at 1067–1068.","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"5","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"Second, the Act proscribes picketing with an","paragraph_id":"para_113","court_paragraph":5},{"text":"organizational or recognitional object when a union","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"representation petition has not been “filed within a reasonable","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"period of time not to exceed thirty days from the","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"commencement of such picketing[.]” 29 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"§ 158(b)(7)(C). Recognitional picketing aims to “forc[e] or","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"requir[e] an employer to recognize or bargain with a labor","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"organization as the representative of [its] employees[.]” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"§ 158(b)(7). Organizational picketing, on the other hand, seeks","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"to “forc[e] or requir[e] the employees of an employer to accept","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"or select such labor organization as their collective bargaining","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"representative[.]” Id. Recognitional or organizational","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"picketing is not an unfair labor practice when the “labor","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"organization is currently certified as the representative of [the]","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"employees[,]” id., or when the picketing has “the purpose of","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"truthfully advising the public * * * that an employer does not","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"employ members of, or have a contract with, a labor","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"organization,” id. § 158(b)(7)(C) (the “publicity proviso”).","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"B","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"Preferred Building Services provides janitorial services in","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"the San Francisco Bay area. Over a decade ago, Preferred","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"subcontracted with Ortiz Janitorial Services to clean several","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"commercial office buildings in San Francisco, including 55","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"Hawthorne Street, 631 Howard Street, and One Kearny. A","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"building management company called Harvest Properties","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"managed 55 Hawthorne and 631 Howard.","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"In 2014, several janitors who worked for Preferred and","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"Ortiz sought help from a local union, Service Employees","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"International Union Local 87. The employees expressed","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"concerns about poor working conditions, low pay, and sexual","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"6","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"harassment. At the Union president’s suggestion, the","paragraph_id":"para_144","court_paragraph":6},{"text":"employees decided to picket to air their grievances.","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"On October 29, 2014, the employees picketed in front of","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"55 Hawthorne’s main entrance. They walked in a circle on the","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"sidewalk, carrying signs and chanting statements including","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"“Up with the union, down with exploitation” and “We want","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"justice. When? Now.” J.A. 6 (Board Suppl. Decision). The","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"signs bore messages that identified Preferred as the target of","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"the workers’ concerns, such as “Preferred Building Services","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"unfair” and “We Prefer no more sexual harassment.” J.A. 6","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"(formatting modified). The signs carried the Union’s logo, and","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"they stated in small print: “This is NOT a strike. It is an","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"informational picket line. We are NOT calling for a boycott of","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"this building. We are in a labor dispute with the cleaning","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"contractor at this building.” J.A. 6 n.6; J.A. 131 (ALJ","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"Decision).","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"The picketers also handed out pamphlets that “identified","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"the janitors’ employer as Preferred and explained that they","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"cleaned the offices of KGO Radio at 55 Hawthorne.” J.A. 6.","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"The pamphlets indicated that the employees were “calling on","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"KGO [R]adio to take corporate responsibility in ensuring that","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"their janitors receive higher wages” and requested that","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"passersby “[j]oin [them] for a picket line outside the offices of","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"KGO [R]adio.” J.A. 131.","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"In the days following the picket, Rafael Ortiz, the founder","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"of Ortiz Janitorial Services, lashed out at the participating","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"employees. Among other things, he demanded that two of the","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"employees provide documentation proving that they were","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"legally in the United States and authorized to work. J.A. 7. Mr.","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"Ortiz threatened another employee “that she would not work","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"anymore because she attended the picket.” J.A. 7. And he","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"informed another employee that “she would no longer be able","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"7","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"to clean certain offices * * * because ‘[Mr. Ortiz] was upset’","paragraph_id":"para_177","court_paragraph":7},{"text":"by the picketing.” J.A. 7.","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"On November 19th, the employees participated in a second","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"picket outside 55 Hawthorne that featured similar signs,","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"leaflets, and chants. Later that day, Preferred’s executive vice","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"president terminated its cleaning services contract with Harvest","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"Properties for 55 Hawthorne and 631 Howard, and Preferred’s","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"subcontract with Ortiz.","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"That evening, Mr. Ortiz fired two of the picketing","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"employees. In mid-December, as Preferred and Ortiz","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"concluded their contracts to provide janitorial services at 55","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"Hawthorne and 631 Howard, Mr. Ortiz terminated several","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"additional employees.","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"On December 18th, a third picket took place, this time","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"outside of One Kearny. J.A. 7. The picketers distributed a flyer","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"with some different text: “We have picketed outside the offices","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"of KGO [R]adio, which we clean[.] * * * We are calling on","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"tenants and clients to tell Preferred Building Service[s] to listen","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"t[o] our demands[.] * * * We are demanding $15 per hour, a","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"full 8-hour day[,] and the right to organize without retaliation.”","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"J.A. 145 (ALJ Decision); see J.A. 115 (Board Initial Decision)","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"(affirming “the judge’s rulings, findings, and conclusions only","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"to the extent consistent with this Decision and Order”).","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"C","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"In April 2015, the Union filed a charge with the National","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"Labor Relations Board alleging that Preferred and Ortiz had","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"violated the National Labor Relations Act. After investigating,","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"the Board’s General Counsel issued a complaint alleging that","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"Preferred and Ortiz had committed unfair labor practices by","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"interfering with their employees’ rights to act collectively, 29","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"8","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), and discharging employees in retaliation","paragraph_id":"para_208","court_paragraph":8},{"text":"for picketing, id. § 158(a)(3).","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"At an evidentiary hearing before an administrative law","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"judge, Preferred and Ortiz raised several defenses. Of","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"relevance here, they argued that the employees’ picketing was","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"unlawful because it (1) had an impermissible secondary object,","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"in violation of 29 U.S.C. § 158(b)(4), and (2) was","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"organizational or recognitional, in violation of 29 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"§ 158(b)(7). In the middle of the hearing, the ALJ ruled that","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"the employers could not present evidence to support those","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"defenses, but she allowed them to make offers of proof.","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"The ALJ ultimately held that Preferred and Ortiz,","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"operating as joint employers, had violated the Act by, among","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"other things, discharging the janitorial employees in retaliation","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"for their picketing. The ALJ rejected the employers’ secondary","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"picketing and organizational/recognitional picketing defenses.","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"Although the ALJ found that the picketing was coercive, she","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"held that it did not have an impermissible secondary object.","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"J.A. 132. Nor did she discern any prohibited recognitional or","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"organizational object. J.A. 134. The ALJ ordered a variety of","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"remedies, including that the employees be reinstated with","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"backpay. J.A. 149–150.","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"The Board reversed. The Board held that the ALJ had","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"erred in refusing to allow Preferred and Ortiz to submit","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"evidence concerning their secondary-picketing defense. J.A.","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"117. Despite that error, the Board concluded that the evidence","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"in the record was sufficient to establish that the picketing had","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"an impermissible secondary object: to convince neutral","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"businesses Harvest Properties and KGO Radio to stop working","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"with Preferred. J.A. 118.","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"9","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"The Union petitioned for review in the Ninth Circuit.","paragraph_id":"para_239","court_paragraph":9},{"text":"Service Emps. Int’l Union Loc. 87 v. NLRB, 995 F.3d 1032,","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"1038 (9th Cir. 2021) (“Preferred I”). That court granted the","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"petition, holding that the Board’s finding of a prohibited","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"secondary object was not supported by substantial evidence.","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"Id. at 1039.1 To start, the court held that the picketing was","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"presumptively lawful under Moore Dry Dock. Id. at 1040.","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"Weighing “the evidence as a whole[,]” the court held that “[t]he","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"combination of the picket signs and the leaflets, considered in","paragraph_id":"para_247"},{"text":"their entirety, clearly disclosed that the employees’ dispute was","paragraph_id":"para_248"},{"text":"with Preferred and not with any of the building’s tenants.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_249"},{"text":"The court next held that no evidence rebutted that presumption,","paragraph_id":"para_250"},{"text":"and that reports that the building’s tenants were “upset” by the","paragraph_id":"para_251"},{"text":"picketing did not reveal an impermissible secondary object.","paragraph_id":"para_252"},{"text":"See id. at 1041–1044. Accordingly, the court remanded to the","paragraph_id":"para_253"},{"text":"Board.","paragraph_id":"para_254"},{"text":"On remand, Preferred, the Union, and the General Counsel","paragraph_id":"para_255"},{"text":"submitted position statements to the Board. Ortiz did not","paragraph_id":"para_256"},{"text":"participate in the remand proceeding. The Board then affirmed","paragraph_id":"para_257"},{"text":"the ALJ’s findings and conclusions that Preferred and Ortiz","paragraph_id":"para_258"},{"text":"were acting as joint employers, that their affirmative defenses","paragraph_id":"para_259"},{"text":"were meritless, and that they had violated the employees’ rights","paragraph_id":"para_260"},{"text":"under Sections 8(a)(1) and (a)(3), 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), (a)(3).","paragraph_id":"para_261"},{"text":"J.A. 6.","paragraph_id":"para_262"},{"text":"Three portions of the Board’s decision are relevant to this","paragraph_id":"para_263"},{"text":"appeal.","paragraph_id":"para_264"},{"text":"First, the Board rejected Preferred’s argument that the","paragraph_id":"para_265"},{"text":"ALJ’s exclusion of its proffered defensive evidence had","paragraph_id":"para_266"},{"text":"prejudiced its secondary picketing defense. In its position","paragraph_id":"para_267"},{"text":"1 The Ninth Circuit did not reach the question of whether the","paragraph_id":"para_268"},{"text":"picketing was coercive. See Preferred I, 995 F.3d at 1039.","paragraph_id":"para_269"},{"text":"10","paragraph_id":"para_270"},{"text":"statement, Preferred explained that it would have provided","paragraph_id":"para_271","court_paragraph":10},{"text":"evidence about a December 24th protest at a fourth building,","paragraph_id":"para_272"},{"text":"Millennium Towers, in which the Union and the janitorial","paragraph_id":"para_273"},{"text":"employees “forcibly gained access to the lobby, struggled with","paragraph_id":"para_274"},{"text":"security[,] * * * and threw coal into the lobby and at the","paragraph_id":"para_275"},{"text":"security team.” J.A. 10 (quoting J.A. 216 (Preferred Position","paragraph_id":"para_276"},{"text":"Statement)). Preferred argued that this evidence would","paragraph_id":"para_277"},{"text":"establish an impermissible secondary object under Service","paragraph_id":"para_278"},{"text":"Employees International Union Local 525 (General","paragraph_id":"para_279"},{"text":"Maintenance), 329 NLRB 638 (1999), in which a janitorial","paragraph_id":"para_280"},{"text":"union had stormed into building lobbies and directly targeted","paragraph_id":"para_281"},{"text":"the building’s tenants. See J.A. 216.","paragraph_id":"para_282"},{"text":"The Board accepted Preferred’s proffered evidence as true","paragraph_id":"para_283"},{"text":"and concluded that it did not establish a prohibited secondary","paragraph_id":"para_284"},{"text":"purpose. J.A. 10. Unlike in General Maintenance, where the","paragraph_id":"para_285"},{"text":"protests had occurred outside of the janitor’s normal hours,","paragraph_id":"para_286"},{"text":"Preferred did not claim that it was not present at the","paragraph_id":"para_287"},{"text":"Millennium Towers building at the time of the December 24th","paragraph_id":"para_288"},{"text":"protest. See J.A. 10 n.16. And even if the December 24th","paragraph_id":"para_289"},{"text":"protest did have a prohibited secondary object, the Board","paragraph_id":"para_290"},{"text":"reasoned, “the conduct on that date would not warrant","paragraph_id":"para_291"},{"text":"concluding that [the] unlawful * * * object existed from the","paragraph_id":"para_292"},{"text":"start of the picketing” back in October when the unfair labor","paragraph_id":"para_293"},{"text":"practices began. J.A. 10 n.16.","paragraph_id":"para_294"},{"text":"Second, the Board rejected the recognitional-picketing","paragraph_id":"para_295"},{"text":"defense. J.A. 11. The Board credited the ALJ’s finding that","paragraph_id":"para_296"},{"text":"“there [was] no evidence of a prohibited object, either by action","paragraph_id":"para_297"},{"text":"or statement.” J.A. 11. In particular, “the picket signs and","paragraph_id":"para_298"},{"text":"leaflets were directed to the public rather than to employees”;","paragraph_id":"para_299"},{"text":"“there were no requests that employees join the Union made in","paragraph_id":"para_300"},{"text":"connection with the picketing”; “there was no evidence of a","paragraph_id":"para_301"},{"text":"contemporaneous demand for recognition”; and there was no","paragraph_id":"para_302"},{"text":"evidence “that a contract was tendered at the time of picketing,","paragraph_id":"para_303"},{"text":"11","paragraph_id":"para_304"},{"text":"or that cessation of picketing was conditioned on signing a","paragraph_id":"para_305","court_paragraph":11},{"text":"contract.” J.A. 11.","paragraph_id":"para_306"},{"text":"Third, the Board amended the ALJ’s remedy. Invoking","paragraph_id":"para_307"},{"text":"Thryv, Inc., 372 NLRB No. 22, 2022 WL 17974951 (Dec. 13,","paragraph_id":"para_308"},{"text":"2022), the Board ordered Preferred and Ortiz to:","paragraph_id":"para_309"},{"text":"compensate the[] [discharged] employees for any","paragraph_id":"para_310"},{"text":"other direct or foreseeable pecuniary harms incurred","paragraph_id":"para_311"},{"text":"as a result of the unlawful conduct, including","paragraph_id":"para_312"},{"text":"reasonable search-for-work and interim employment","paragraph_id":"para_313"},{"text":"expenses, if any, regardless of whether these expenses","paragraph_id":"para_314"},{"text":"exceed interim earnings.","paragraph_id":"para_315"},{"text":"J.A. 20.","paragraph_id":"para_316"},{"text":"Preferred petitioned for review in this court, and the Board","paragraph_id":"para_317"},{"text":"cross-petitioned for enforcement of its order. We granted the","paragraph_id":"para_318"},{"text":"Board’s motion for default judgment against Ortiz, which","paragraph_id":"para_319"},{"text":"neither petitioned for review nor responded to the Board’s","paragraph_id":"para_320"},{"text":"cross-petition for enforcement, see FED. R. APP. P. 15(b)(2),","paragraph_id":"para_321"},{"text":"and consolidated the cases.","paragraph_id":"para_322"},{"text":"II","paragraph_id":"para_323"},{"text":"This court has jurisdiction over Preferred’s petition for","paragraph_id":"para_324"},{"text":"review under 29 U.S.C. § 160(f). We have jurisdiction over the","paragraph_id":"para_325"},{"text":"Board’s cross-petition for enforcement under 29 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_326"},{"text":"§ 160(e).","paragraph_id":"para_327"},{"text":"Preferred presses three arguments in its petition. First, it","paragraph_id":"para_328"},{"text":"contends that the Board erred by failing to allow it to present","paragraph_id":"para_329"},{"text":"evidence before the ALJ on its defenses. Second, it argues that","paragraph_id":"para_330"},{"text":"the Board’s holding that the employees’ picketing was not","paragraph_id":"para_331"},{"text":"recognitional or organizational was not supported by","paragraph_id":"para_332"},{"text":"12","paragraph_id":"para_333"},{"text":"substantial evidence. Third, Preferred objects to the Board’s","paragraph_id":"para_334","court_paragraph":12},{"text":"Thryv remedy as unconstitutional and in excess of its statutory","paragraph_id":"para_335"},{"text":"authority.","paragraph_id":"para_336"},{"text":"Because none of these arguments has merit, we deny","paragraph_id":"para_337"},{"text":"Preferred’s petition and grant the Board’s cross-petition for","paragraph_id":"para_338"},{"text":"enforcement.","paragraph_id":"para_339"},{"text":"A","paragraph_id":"para_340"},{"text":"Preferred insists that “[t]he Board erred, as a matter of law,","paragraph_id":"para_341"},{"text":"by preventing Preferred from presenting evidence on its","paragraph_id":"para_342"},{"text":"statutory affirmative defenses” to an ALJ. Preferred Opening","paragraph_id":"para_343"},{"text":"Br. 23. Not so—the Board did not err, and the ruling did not","paragraph_id":"para_344"},{"text":"prejudice Preferred regardless.","paragraph_id":"para_345"},{"text":"We review the Board’s evidentiary rulings for abuse of","paragraph_id":"para_346"},{"text":"discretion. Quicken Loans, Inc. v. NLRB, 830 F.3d 542, 551","paragraph_id":"para_347"},{"text":"(D.C. Cir. 2016). Absent a serious procedural defect, like lack","paragraph_id":"para_348"},{"text":"of notice, we grant relief only if the abuse of discretion “unduly","paragraph_id":"para_349"},{"text":"prejudiced the complaining party[,]” meaning the “admission","paragraph_id":"para_350"},{"text":"of the excluded evidence would have compelled or persuaded","paragraph_id":"para_351"},{"text":"to a contrary result.” Id. (formatting modified); see NLRB v.","paragraph_id":"para_352"},{"text":"Blake Constr. Co., 663 F.2d 272, 279 (D.C. Cir. 1981).","paragraph_id":"para_353"},{"text":"Preferred has not pointed to any procedural defect at all,","paragraph_id":"para_354"},{"text":"let alone one warranting remand without a showing of","paragraph_id":"para_355"},{"text":"prejudice. Although Preferred tries to frame its challenge in","paragraph_id":"para_356"},{"text":"broad terms, its disagreement with the Board is actually","paragraph_id":"para_357"},{"text":"narrow. Preferred’s claim is simply that, if given the chance, it","paragraph_id":"para_358"},{"text":"would have presented evidence of a fourth picket at","paragraph_id":"para_359"},{"text":"Millennium Towers during which “the [Union] and the alleged","paragraph_id":"para_360"},{"text":"discriminatees forcibly gained access to the lobby, struggled","paragraph_id":"para_361"},{"text":"with security (resulting in injuries to members of the security","paragraph_id":"para_362"},{"text":"team) and threw coal into the lobby and at the security team.”","paragraph_id":"para_363"},{"text":"13","paragraph_id":"para_364"},{"text":"Preferred Opening Br. 28–29. It insists that this evidence","paragraph_id":"para_365","court_paragraph":13},{"text":"would have established secondary picketing under General","paragraph_id":"para_366"},{"text":"Maintenance, which the Ninth Circuit had distinguished on the","paragraph_id":"para_367"},{"text":"record before it, see Preferred I, 995 F.3d at 1044.2","paragraph_id":"para_368"},{"text":"The Board, however, did not refuse to hear and consider","paragraph_id":"para_369"},{"text":"that evidence. Quite the opposite: It assumed the truth of","paragraph_id":"para_370"},{"text":"Preferred’s evidence and then concluded that such evidence","paragraph_id":"para_371"},{"text":"would not alter the Ninth Circuit’s holding that no secondary","paragraph_id":"para_372"},{"text":"picketing had occurred. J.A. 10 n.16.","paragraph_id":"para_373"},{"text":"As the Board explained, the facts of General Maintenance","paragraph_id":"para_374"},{"text":"and this case are materially different. In General Maintenance,","paragraph_id":"para_375"},{"text":"the time of the picket was outside of the “janitors’ normal","paragraph_id":"para_376"},{"text":"hours[.]” 329 NLRB at 680; J.A. 10 n.16. Here, Preferred has","paragraph_id":"para_377"},{"text":"“not claim[ed] that Preferred was not present at the time of the","paragraph_id":"para_378"},{"text":"December 24 protest.” J.A. 10 n.16. In General Maintenance,","paragraph_id":"para_379"},{"text":"the employer introduced evidence that the picketing was aimed","paragraph_id":"para_380"},{"text":"at a neutral third party: a public statement from one of the","paragraph_id":"para_381"},{"text":"union organizers that the “tenants [we]re upset by” the trashing,","paragraph_id":"para_382"},{"text":"and that “[m]any * * * sa[id] to their building owner, we want","paragraph_id":"para_383"},{"text":"this settled.” 329 NLRB at 680; see J.A. 10 n.16. Preferred, in","paragraph_id":"para_384"},{"text":"contrast, proffered no evidence at all that “the demonstration","paragraph_id":"para_385"},{"text":"was aimed at a neutral third party.” J.A. 10 n.16.","paragraph_id":"para_386"},{"text":"Instead of engaging with the Board’s reasoning, Preferred","paragraph_id":"para_387"},{"text":"insists that its proffer would plug a gap in the record that the","paragraph_id":"para_388"},{"text":"Ninth Circuit identified. See Preferred Opening Br. 29 (“This","paragraph_id":"para_389"},{"text":"is precisely the type of evidence of explicit, direct targeting of","paragraph_id":"para_390"},{"text":"2 Because Preferred has not proffered any evidence that, had it","paragraph_id":"para_391"},{"text":"been admitted, might have established an organizational or","paragraph_id":"para_392"},{"text":"recognitional object, Preferred has forfeited any prejudice argument","paragraph_id":"para_393"},{"text":"as to that defense.","paragraph_id":"para_394"},{"text":"14","paragraph_id":"para_395"},{"text":"third parties that the Court of Appeals concluded was missing","paragraph_id":"para_396","court_paragraph":14},{"text":"from the incomplete factual record[.]”).","paragraph_id":"para_397"},{"text":"Not at all. In the decision on review before the Ninth","paragraph_id":"para_398"},{"text":"Circuit, the Board originally had found secondary picketing","paragraph_id":"para_399"},{"text":"under General Maintenance solely by relying on the","paragraph_id":"para_400"},{"text":"“employees’ reports that [55 Hawthorne’s] tenants were","paragraph_id":"para_401"},{"text":"‘upset’ about the picketing[.]” Preferred I, 995 F.3d at 1044.","paragraph_id":"para_402"},{"text":"The Ninth Circuit found that evidence irrelevant for two","paragraph_id":"para_403"},{"text":"reasons. First, unlike in General Maintenance, where “the","paragraph_id":"para_404"},{"text":"union directly targeted the building’s tenants and owners with","paragraph_id":"para_405"},{"text":"its coercive activity[,]” the Union here had “never engaged in","paragraph_id":"para_406"},{"text":"coercive conduct targeting Harvest or any of the building’s","paragraph_id":"para_407"},{"text":"tenants.” Id. (emphasis added). Second, “while in General","paragraph_id":"para_408"},{"text":"Maintenance the tenants were upset about the union’s trashing","paragraph_id":"para_409"},{"text":"of their buildings, here the tenants were ‘upset by what they","paragraph_id":"para_410"},{"text":"had learned’ from the demonstrations—presumably, that","paragraph_id":"para_411"},{"text":"Preferred was not treating its employees well.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_412"},{"text":"Preferred’s proffered evidence would not cure either","paragraph_id":"para_413"},{"text":"deficiency. Simply pointing out that both the protest in","paragraph_id":"para_414"},{"text":"General Maintenance and the protest here included a “trashing","paragraph_id":"para_415"},{"text":"incident” in a secondary party’s lobby is not enough. Preferred","paragraph_id":"para_416"},{"text":"needed to proffer evidence that the conduct was aimed at a","paragraph_id":"para_417"},{"text":"neutral third party. Preferred has done nothing to connect the","paragraph_id":"para_418"},{"text":"picket at Millennium Towers back to the statement that tenants","paragraph_id":"para_419"},{"text":"at 55 Hawthorne were upset.","paragraph_id":"para_420"},{"text":"Trying a different tack, Preferred summarizes some other","paragraph_id":"para_421"},{"text":"cases in which this court held that the Board’s serious","paragraph_id":"para_422"},{"text":"procedural errors violated due process. None of that precedent","paragraph_id":"para_423"},{"text":"applies here. The Board did not deprive Preferred of notice.","paragraph_id":"para_424"},{"text":"Contrast Blake Constr. Co., 663 F.2d at 279 (holding that the","paragraph_id":"para_425"},{"text":"Board denied an employer due process by finding “violations","paragraph_id":"para_426"},{"text":"[that] were neither alleged in the complaint nor litigated at the","paragraph_id":"para_427"},{"text":"15","paragraph_id":"para_428"},{"text":"hearing”); Bruce Packing Co. v. NLRB, 795 F.3d 18, 24 (D.C.","paragraph_id":"para_429","court_paragraph":15},{"text":"Cir. 2015) (setting aside the Board’s decision to allow a late","paragraph_id":"para_430"},{"text":"amendment to the complaint because the employer “lacked","paragraph_id":"para_431"},{"text":"both actual notice of the new charge during the hearing and the","paragraph_id":"para_432"},{"text":"opportunity to fairly litigate the issue”).","paragraph_id":"para_433"},{"text":"Nor did the Board completely refuse to consider","paragraph_id":"para_434"},{"text":"Preferred’s defense. Contrast United Food & Com. Workers","paragraph_id":"para_435"},{"text":"Int’l Union Loc. No. 576 v. NLRB, 675 F.2d 346, 356 (D.C. Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_436"},{"text":"1982) (faulting “[t]he Board’s refusal to hear the Union’s","paragraph_id":"para_437"},{"text":"defense”). To the contrary, the Board listened to Preferred’s","paragraph_id":"para_438"},{"text":"arguments, accepted Preferred’s evidence as true, reasonably","paragraph_id":"para_439"},{"text":"analyzed the defenses, and rejected them on their merits.","paragraph_id":"para_440"},{"text":"Having had its affirmative defenses fully considered by the","paragraph_id":"para_441"},{"text":"Board and reasonably rejected, Preferred has nothing left to","paragraph_id":"para_442"},{"text":"complain about.3","paragraph_id":"para_443"},{"text":"Anyhow, Preferred has not explained how evidence of a","paragraph_id":"para_444"},{"text":"picket on December 24th could supply a defense to its unfair","paragraph_id":"para_445"},{"text":"labor practices, all of which occurred before that date. See J.A.","paragraph_id":"para_446"},{"text":"139 (October 31st reduction in an employee’s hours); J.A. 142–","paragraph_id":"para_447"},{"text":"143 (November 19th firing of two employees); J.A. 144–145","paragraph_id":"para_448"},{"text":"(November 19th cancellation of Harvest Properties contract).4","paragraph_id":"para_449"},{"text":"3 In its reply brief, Preferred claims that this court has","paragraph_id":"para_450"},{"text":"“recognized that denial of the opportunity to present relevant and","paragraph_id":"para_451"},{"text":"non-cumulative evidence is virtually always prejudicial.” Preferred","paragraph_id":"para_452"},{"text":"Reply Br. 2. But the case it cites, Ozark Automotive Distributors,","paragraph_id":"para_453"},{"text":"Inc. v. NLRB, 779 F.3d 576 (D.C. Cir. 2015), remanded to the Board","paragraph_id":"para_454"},{"text":"only after finding prejudice, see id. at 585–586.","paragraph_id":"para_455"},{"text":"4 There are three employees whose exact firing dates do not","paragraph_id":"para_456"},{"text":"appear in the record. See J.A. 7 n.9. But Preferred has not argued","paragraph_id":"para_457"},{"text":"that any of the three were discharged after or based on the","paragraph_id":"para_458"},{"text":"Millennium Towers picket. The Board instead found those","paragraph_id":"para_459"},{"text":"16","paragraph_id":"para_460"},{"text":"B","paragraph_id":"para_461","court_paragraph":16},{"text":"Preferred next argues that the Board’s finding that the","paragraph_id":"para_462"},{"text":"picketing was not recognitional or organizational was","paragraph_id":"para_463"},{"text":"unsupported by substantial evidence.","paragraph_id":"para_464"},{"text":"The object of picketing is a “question of fact,” so the","paragraph_id":"para_465"},{"text":"Board’s finding “must be upheld * * * if it is supported by","paragraph_id":"para_466"},{"text":"substantial evidence.” General Serv. Emps. Union Loc. No. 73","paragraph_id":"para_467"},{"text":"v. NLRB, 578 F.2d 361, 373 (D.C. Cir. 1978); see also 29","paragraph_id":"para_468"},{"text":"U.S.C. § 160(e) (“The findings of the Board with respect to","paragraph_id":"para_469"},{"text":"questions of fact if supported by substantial evidence on the","paragraph_id":"para_470"},{"text":"record considered as a whole shall be conclusive.”).","paragraph_id":"para_471"},{"text":"“Substantial evidence is lacking only when, considering the","paragraph_id":"para_472"},{"text":"record as a whole, no reasonable factfinder could have made","paragraph_id":"para_473"},{"text":"the same finding as the agency.” Leggett & Platt, Inc. v. NLRB,","paragraph_id":"para_474"},{"text":"988 F.3d 487, 496 (D.C. Cir. 2021).","paragraph_id":"para_475"},{"text":"Preferred has failed to make that showing.","paragraph_id":"para_476"},{"text":"The Board thoroughly examined the totality of","paragraph_id":"para_477"},{"text":"circumstances surrounding the picketing and did not find any","paragraph_id":"para_478"},{"text":"recognitional or organizational object. It reasonably adopted","paragraph_id":"para_479"},{"text":"the ALJ’s factual findings that (i) “the picket signs and leaflets","paragraph_id":"para_480"},{"text":"were directed to the public rather than to employees[,]” (ii)","paragraph_id":"para_481"},{"text":"“there were no requests that employees join the Union made in","paragraph_id":"para_482"},{"text":"connection with the picketing[,]” (iii) “there was no evidence","paragraph_id":"para_483"},{"text":"of a contemporaneous demand for recognition,” (iv) “there was","paragraph_id":"para_484"},{"text":"no evidence * * * that a contract was tendered at the time of","paragraph_id":"para_485"},{"text":"discharges to be unfair labor practices because they flowed from","paragraph_id":"para_486"},{"text":"Preferred’s illegal “cancellation of the contract and subcontract for","paragraph_id":"para_487"},{"text":"janitorial services at 55 Hawthorne Street/631 Howard Street[,]”","paragraph_id":"para_488"},{"text":"which occurred on November 19th. J.A. 18; see J.A. 17–18.","paragraph_id":"para_489"},{"text":"17","paragraph_id":"para_490"},{"text":"picketing,” and (v) “there was no evidence * * * that cessation","paragraph_id":"para_491","court_paragraph":17},{"text":"of picketing was conditioned on signing a contract.” J.A. 11.5","paragraph_id":"para_492"},{"text":"The Board then reasonably explained why the stray facts","paragraph_id":"para_493"},{"text":"pressed by Preferred did not change the result.","paragraph_id":"para_494"},{"text":"First, “the context surrounding th[e] chants” of “up with","paragraph_id":"para_495"},{"text":"the Union; down with exploitation” and “we want a union, not","paragraph_id":"para_496"},{"text":"corruption” “ma[d]e it clear that the employees (and the Union)","paragraph_id":"para_497"},{"text":"did not have an organizational object.” J.A. 11 n.19","paragraph_id":"para_498"},{"text":"(formatting modified). At the first picket, for instance, the","paragraph_id":"para_499"},{"text":"employees “mentioned wanting justice, handed out flyers in","paragraph_id":"para_500"},{"text":"which they presented arguments for a minimum wage increase,","paragraph_id":"para_501"},{"text":"and noted that * * * [they] were in a ‘labor dispute with the","paragraph_id":"para_502"},{"text":"cleaning contractor at th[e] building.’” J.A. 11 n.19. At the","paragraph_id":"para_503"},{"text":"second picket, they distributed flyers that “mentioned ‘abusive","paragraph_id":"para_504"},{"text":"and unsafe working conditions and sexual harassment[.]’” J.A.","paragraph_id":"para_505"},{"text":"11 n.19.","paragraph_id":"para_506"},{"text":"Second, the Board found, based on substantial evidence,","paragraph_id":"para_507"},{"text":"that an employee’s statement that “negotiations” were","paragraph_id":"para_508"},{"text":"successful “only demonstrate[d] that the Union was involved","paragraph_id":"para_509"},{"text":"in assisting the employees while they negotiated to have their","paragraph_id":"para_510"},{"text":"issues addressed, not that they were negotiating for","paragraph_id":"para_511"},{"text":"organizational purposes.” J.A. 11 n.19. As the Board noted,","paragraph_id":"para_512"},{"text":"the employee went on to recount that “the person that we","paragraph_id":"para_513"},{"text":"wanted to leave, it seems has been let go”—indicating that the","paragraph_id":"para_514"},{"text":"“negotiations were not related to organizing, but, rather, to the","paragraph_id":"para_515"},{"text":"employees’ issues with Rafael Ortiz.” J.A. 11 n.19.","paragraph_id":"para_516"},{"text":"5 The Board held that the picketing fell within Section","paragraph_id":"para_517"},{"text":"8(b)(7)(C)’s publicity proviso because “the purpose of the picketing","paragraph_id":"para_518"},{"text":"was to inform the public and protest employees’ working","paragraph_id":"para_519"},{"text":"conditions[.]” J.A. 11. Because substantial evidence supported the","paragraph_id":"para_520"},{"text":"Board’s conclusion that the picketing lacked a recognitional or","paragraph_id":"para_521"},{"text":"organizational object, we do not reach the publicity proviso.","paragraph_id":"para_522"},{"text":"18","paragraph_id":"para_523"},{"text":"Preferred chose not to engage with the Board’s reasoning","paragraph_id":"para_524","court_paragraph":18},{"text":"in its opening brief. Preferred instead asserts that “[t]he record","paragraph_id":"para_525"},{"text":"does not support the Board’s reading of the facts[,]” but does","paragraph_id":"para_526"},{"text":"not explain why beyond a bare recitation of factual assertions","paragraph_id":"para_527"},{"text":"that the Board rejected. Preferred Opening Br. 36. Because","paragraph_id":"para_528"},{"text":"Preferred has supplied us with no argument that could","paragraph_id":"para_529"},{"text":"undermine the Board’s reasoned analysis, this challenge fails.","paragraph_id":"para_530"},{"text":"See Government of Manitoba v. Bernhardt, 923 F.3d 173, 179","paragraph_id":"para_531"},{"text":"(D.C. Cir. 2019); see also Al-Tamimi v. Adelson, 916 F.3d 1, 6","paragraph_id":"para_532"},{"text":"(D.C. Cir. 2019) (“A party forfeits an argument by failing to","paragraph_id":"para_533"},{"text":"raise it in his opening brief.”).","paragraph_id":"para_534"},{"text":"C","paragraph_id":"para_535"},{"text":"Lastly, Preferred argues that the Board’s Thryv remedy","paragraph_id":"para_536"},{"text":"exceeds its remedial authority under the Act and violates the","paragraph_id":"para_537"},{"text":"Constitution. Preferred also argues that the Board’s","paragraph_id":"para_538"},{"text":"“retroactiv[e] appl[ication]” of the Thryv remedy violates its","paragraph_id":"para_539"},{"text":"due process rights. Preferred Opening Br. 44. In support,","paragraph_id":"para_540"},{"text":"Preferred summarizes out-of-circuit cases, walks through","paragraph_id":"para_541"},{"text":"legislative history, and block-quotes the dissent from Thryv.","paragraph_id":"para_542"},{"text":"Because Preferred did not raise any of these arguments","paragraph_id":"para_543"},{"text":"before the Board, we lack jurisdiction to consider them. Under","paragraph_id":"para_544"},{"text":"Section 10(e) of the Act, “[n]o objection that has not been","paragraph_id":"para_545"},{"text":"urged before the Board * * * shall be considered by the court,","paragraph_id":"para_546"},{"text":"unless the failure or neglect to urge such objection shall be","paragraph_id":"para_547"},{"text":"excused because of extraordinary circumstances.” 29 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_548"},{"text":"§ 160(e); see Woelke & Romero Framing, Inc. v. NLRB, 456","paragraph_id":"para_549"},{"text":"U.S. 645, 666 (1982) (“[T]he Court of Appeals lacks","paragraph_id":"para_550"},{"text":"jurisdiction to review objections that were not urged before the","paragraph_id":"para_551"},{"text":"Board[.]”).","paragraph_id":"para_552"},{"text":"19","paragraph_id":"para_553"},{"text":"In a footnote in its reply brief, Preferred insists that it","paragraph_id":"para_554","court_paragraph":19},{"text":"“specifically objected to the Board’s request for Thryv","paragraph_id":"para_555"},{"text":"remedies[,]” but it points only to a single word in a","paragraph_id":"para_556"},{"text":"parenthetical in an otherwise irrelevant filing. Preferred Reply","paragraph_id":"para_557"},{"text":"Br. 9 n.4; see J.A. 333–334 (arguing only that the General","paragraph_id":"para_558"},{"text":"Counsel’s motion to strike was “manifestly hypocritical”","paragraph_id":"para_559"},{"text":"because the General Counsel’s filing sought “(unauthorized)","paragraph_id":"para_560"},{"text":"‘consequential damages’”). Preferred did not say another","paragraph_id":"para_561"},{"text":"word, either in that filing or anywhere else, as to why the","paragraph_id":"para_562"},{"text":"ordered remedies might be unlawful. Putting the word","paragraph_id":"para_563"},{"text":"“unauthorized” in parentheses in one sentence in an unrelated","paragraph_id":"para_564"},{"text":"brief does not satisfy Section 10(e)’s requirement that an","paragraph_id":"para_565"},{"text":"objection be “urged before the Board[,]” 29 U.S.C. § 160(e).","paragraph_id":"para_566"},{"text":"See, e.g., T-Mobile USA, Inc. v. NLRB, 90 F.4th 564, 579 (D.C.","paragraph_id":"para_567"},{"text":"Cir. 2024).6","paragraph_id":"para_568"},{"text":"Because Preferred failed to comply with Section 10(e), this","paragraph_id":"para_569"},{"text":"court can consider its challenge to the Thryv remedy only if","paragraph_id":"para_570"},{"text":"“extraordinary circumstances” excuse its failure. 29 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_571"},{"text":"§ 160(e). None do.","paragraph_id":"para_572"},{"text":"6 Preferred also notes that it objected to the General Counsel’s","paragraph_id":"para_573"},{"text":"request for backpay. See Preferred Reply Br. 9 (citing J.A. 217–221,","paragraph_id":"para_574"},{"text":"which is Preferred’s Position Statement arguing that “the * * *","paragraph_id":"para_575"},{"text":"backpay remedy demanded by the General Counsel * * * is","paragraph_id":"para_576"},{"text":"absolutely outrageous and devoid of any credible support”). But","paragraph_id":"para_577"},{"text":"Preferred has not challenged the award of backpay on appeal, and","paragraph_id":"para_578"},{"text":"objecting to one part of an ordered remedy did not “put the Board on","paragraph_id":"para_579"},{"text":"notice” that Preferred would challenge a completely different aspect","paragraph_id":"para_580"},{"text":"of the remedy on different grounds on appeal. Vermont Info.","paragraph_id":"para_581"},{"text":"Processing, Inc. v. NLRB, 176 F.4th 690, 705 (D.C. Cir. 2026)","paragraph_id":"para_582"},{"text":"(quoting Consolidated Freightways v. NLRB, 669 F.2d 790, 794","paragraph_id":"para_583"},{"text":"(D.C. Cir. 1981)).","paragraph_id":"para_584"},{"text":"20","paragraph_id":"para_585"},{"text":"In its opening brief, Preferred suggests that it “never had","paragraph_id":"para_586","court_paragraph":20},{"text":"the opportunity” to challenge the Thryv remedy. Preferred","paragraph_id":"para_587"},{"text":"Opening Br. 38 n.8. Preferred is wrong twice over.","paragraph_id":"para_588"},{"text":"First, Preferred readily admits in its reply brief that it had","paragraph_id":"para_589"},{"text":"notice of, and opportunity to respond to, the General Counsel’s","paragraph_id":"para_590"},{"text":"“request for Thryv remedies” in motions practice before the","paragraph_id":"para_591"},{"text":"Board. See Preferred Reply Br. 9 n.4.","paragraph_id":"para_592"},{"text":"Second, even if the Board had imposed the Thryv remedy","paragraph_id":"para_593"},{"text":"sua sponte, Preferred would have been “required to file a","paragraph_id":"para_594"},{"text":"motion for reconsideration to preserve its challenges.” HTH","paragraph_id":"para_595"},{"text":"Corp. v. NLRB, 823 F.3d 668, 673 (D.C. Cir. 2016); see also","paragraph_id":"para_596"},{"text":"Spectrum Health—Kent Cmty. Campus v. NLRB, 647 F.3d 341,","paragraph_id":"para_597"},{"text":"349 (D.C. Cir. 2011) (When “the Board sua sponte decides an","paragraph_id":"para_598"},{"text":"issue * * *, [a party’s] objections will be preserved by a timely","paragraph_id":"para_599"},{"text":"motion to reconsider.”).","paragraph_id":"para_600"},{"text":"Preferred then retreats to arguing that it could not have met","paragraph_id":"para_601"},{"text":"the standard for moving for reconsideration because the Board","paragraph_id":"para_602"},{"text":"ordered the Thryv remedy over a dissent. Preferred Reply Br.","paragraph_id":"para_603"},{"text":"10. In so arguing, Preferred might be taken to suggest that any","paragraph_id":"para_604"},{"text":"challenge to the Thryv remedy would have been futile—a","paragraph_id":"para_605"},{"text":"circumstance we have held may excuse a party’s failure to","paragraph_id":"para_606"},{"text":"preserve an objection. See HTH Corp., 823 F.3d at 674 (“The","paragraph_id":"para_607"},{"text":"patent futility of a reconsideration motion excuses the failure","paragraph_id":"para_608"},{"text":"to object, at least where the Board acts sua sponte.”). But","paragraph_id":"para_609"},{"text":"Preferred overreads the Board’s analysis. The Board merely","paragraph_id":"para_610"},{"text":"asserted that Thryv “remain[ed] valid precedent” “[f]or the","paragraph_id":"para_611"},{"text":"reasons set forth in” a prior Board opinion. J.A. 20 n.42. And","paragraph_id":"para_612"},{"text":"that prior opinion distinguished the Fifth Circuit’s holding in","paragraph_id":"para_613"},{"text":"Thryv, Inc. v. NRLB, 102 F.4th 727 (5th Cir. 2024), as reaching","paragraph_id":"para_614"},{"text":"only “portions of the Board’s underlying unfair labor practice","paragraph_id":"para_615"},{"text":"findings on the merits.” Airgas USA, LLC, 373 NLRB No. 102,","paragraph_id":"para_616"},{"text":"2024 WL 4251820, at *1 n.2 (Sept. 18, 2024). In any event,","paragraph_id":"para_617"},{"text":"21","paragraph_id":"para_618"},{"text":"we have rejected the argument “that the majority’s rejection of","paragraph_id":"para_619","court_paragraph":21},{"text":"[a] dissenter[’s] points suggests that moving for","paragraph_id":"para_620"},{"text":"reconsideration would have been futile.” HTH Corp., 823 F.3d","paragraph_id":"para_621"},{"text":"at 673. “[A] party may not rely on arguments raised in a dissent","paragraph_id":"para_622"},{"text":"or on a discussion of the relevant issues by the majority to","paragraph_id":"para_623"},{"text":"overcome the [Section] 10(e) bar; the Act requires the party to","paragraph_id":"para_624"},{"text":"raise its challenges itself.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_625"},{"text":"Preferred did not. 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