Project Spearhead Advisor: Union Authorization Cards Declined After Leslie Smith’s UFC Release

The advisor for Project Spearhead says that there was a major decline in union authorization cards after Leslie Smith was released by the UFC. MMAjunkie reports that according to Lucas Middlebrook, there was a “precipitous decline” in such cards being collected after the release, all of which prompted Smith to file a complained with the National Labor Board over her release. Middlebrook said that several confidential witnesses came forward and testified “that the fear increased and the people retreated after they did what they did to Leslie.”

He adds, “There was no other choice but for Leslie to file this charge, in order to show the rest of the fighters what they did is illegal. And they’re not going to do it to you, because they did it to me, and I’m going to fight back. I’m going to show that it’s illegal, and there’s a federal agency here that’s designed to protect you.”

Middlebrook says that the regional office of the NLRB found merit in the allegations, which are that UFC released Smith in retaliation for her attempts to organize fighters. However, he added that the regional board was overruled by the national office, which said it needed to evaluate the case before proceeding.

“We received a phone call saying this case has been decided on the merit determination, and only later to say, now, we’re being told it has to be sent to (Washington, D.C.),” Middlebrook said. “To me, in my opinion, smacks of political string-pulling.”