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Labor Relations / Unions

Understanding religious accommodation in Illinois workplaces

07/01/2007

Illinois mirrors America’s growing diversity in many ways. Today, mosques occupy old churches; co-workers wear burqas and yarmulkes; and some employees request “prayer breaks”  …

U.S. Supreme Court asks solicitor general to review California law

07/01/2007

The U. S. Supreme Court in May invited the U.S. solicitor general to file an amicus brief addressing whether the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) pre-empts a California law …

Can we install in-Plant security cameras without telling employees?

07/01/2007

Q. We have a theft problem in our plant. Our plant manager would like to install security cameras at key locations and exits, and would like to do this without telling our employees so that we can catch the guilty party. Is there any reason why we should not proceed with installing the cameras? …

Houston leads the country in manufacturing jobs

07/01/2007

A recent survey found that Houston has the most manufacturing jobs of any city in the United States …

Striking employees forfeit unemployment comp

06/01/2007

Q. We are in contract negotiations, and there is some concern that our employees will actually vote to go out on strike. Are striking employees eligible for unemployment compensation benefits in Michigan?—F.B.

Cell phones in plant: Must we bargain with union?

06/01/2007

Q. Our company has a union contract with work rules. We also have the right in the contract to change the work rules, which the union can grieve. We recently exercised our right to add a new rule prohibiting cell phones in the plant. The union hasn’t filed a grievance, but it has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. It claims that we are obligated to bargain over the new rule. Are we obligated to bargain over a new rule like this?—R.S.

Michigan OSHA inspection

06/01/2007

Q. Michigan’s labor department has sent us a letter stating that a MIOSHA safety officer will be coming to inspect our facility regarding an employee’s safety complaint. Are we obligated to let the safety officer come into our plant and question our employees? Will the officer tell us who filed the complaint?—C.B.

Alcoa workers wonder who will protect them from their union

06/01/2007

Employees of Alcoa’s truck wheel manufacturing plant in Cleveland have filed unfair labor practice charges against their union with the National Labor Relations Board …

House shoots down bill to allow guns in the parking lot

06/01/2007

A Florida House committee voted down House Bill 1417, which would have forced employers to let workers keep guns in locked cars on company property …

OSHA to Clarify Protective-Equipment Standard

06/01/2007

Who pays for an employee’s personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves and steel-toed shoes): the employer or the employee? Federal regulations are unclear in most cases. But that may be changing …