Filed Date: Jan. 12, 2026
Closed Date: Jan. 21, 2026
Clearinghouse coding complete
This is a lawsuit challenging the Unfair Labor Practice Charge that the National Labor Relations Board filed against the Salvation Army in 2025.
On January 12, 2026, the Salvation Army filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, challenging the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over its operations. According to the complaint, in 2024, the Salvation Army terminated an employee working at a Rehabilitation Center in Michigan after years of unprofessional and disrespectful conduct. Thereafter, the terminated employee filed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge with the NLRB alleging that the Salvation Army violated Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act, which makes it an unfair labor practice for an employer to interfere with employee collective bargaining and unionizing rights, by maintaining overbroad work rules. On May 1, 2025, the NLRB Acting General Counsel found sufficient evidence to support the charge and issued a Complaint and Notice of Hearing to the Salvation Army (Case No. 07-CA-353233). The Salvation Army filed an Answer and Amended Answer denying the claims, and in December 2025 filed a Motion to Dismiss with the NLRB, asserting that the NLRB could not exert jurisdiction over the Salvation Army because doing so would violate the Salvation Army’s First Amendment rights to manage its employees consistent with its religious mission. The NLRB did not dismiss the charge, and the Salvation Army brought suit in January 2026.
In this lawsuit, the Salvation Army asserted that because the First Amendment prohibits government interference with the internal affairs of religious organizations, the NLRB could not exercise jurisdiction over church-operated organizations such as the Salvation Army and, therefore, that the Unfair Labor Practice Charge was improper. It sought injunctive and declaratory relief preventing the NLRB from exercising jurisdiction over the Salvation Army. The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Leitman. On January 21, 2026, the Salvation Army voluntarily dropped the suit after NLRB prosecutors dropped their underlying administrative complaint. The case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Madison Krumins (2/17/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72132954/parties/the-salvation-army-v-national-labor-relations-the/
Leitman, Matthew Frederick (Michigan)
Below, John T. (Michigan)
Empey, Amanda McSween (Michigan)
Fealk, Gary S. (Michigan)
Goldstein, Dawn (Michigan)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72132954/the-salvation-army-v-national-labor-relations-the/
Last updated March 8, 2026, 4:12 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 12, 2026
Closing Date: Jan. 21, 2026
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The Salvation Army, a religious non-profit organization
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
National Labor Relations Board
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Eastern District of Michigan 2:26-cv-10105
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Case Summary of The Salvation Army v. The National Labor Relations Board, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47742/ (last updated 2/17/2026).