Knorr-Bremse AG (Knorr) and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) have Entered into a Settlement with the United States Department of Justice
Please take notice that Knorr-Bremse AG (Knorr) and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (Wabtec) have entered into a settlement with the United States Department of Justice relating to their respective employee recruiting, solicitation, and hiring practices.
On April 3, 2018, the United States filed a federal civil antitrust Complaint alleging that Knorr and Wabtec entered into agreements that restrained cold calling, soliciting, recruiting, hiring, or otherwise competing for employees (collectively, “no-poach agreements”) in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1. At the same time, the United States filed a proposed settlement that prohibits each of Knorr and Wabtec from entering into, maintaining, or enforcing no-poach agreements with another employer subject to limited exceptions. This prohibition includes seeking permission or approval before considering, approaching, or hiring an employee or requiring the other employer to seek permission or approval from Knorr and Wabtec before considering or approaching one of their employees.
As part of its settlement with the United States, Knorr and Wabtec confirmed that each company has unilaterally withdrawn from and will not enforce any prohibited no-poach agreements it may have had with any other employer relating to employees located or being hired to work in the United States.
The Final Judgment, which was recently entered by a federal district court, is effective for seven years. Copies of the Complaint, Final Judgment, and Competitive Impact Statement are available at:
Complaint: https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/1048866/download
Final Judgment: https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/1084651/download
Competitive Impact Statement: https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/file/1048891/download
