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Labor Relations / Unions

Union membership in Indiana projected to fall below 10%

10/01/2007

Union membership nationwide has been on a steady slide for the past 40 years and Indiana is no exception. A new Indiana Department of Labor report shows that only 12.5% of workers in Indiana are members of a labor union, down from more than 40% in the mid-1960s. The report predicts that the percentage will fall to 9.5% by 2010 …

Despite contract, union members can sue directly

10/01/2007

If you think you can prevent employees from suing you directly by negotiating a union contract specifying that all employment disputes go to arbitration, think again. Even if the collective-bargaining agreement specifies that every employment-law dispute will be arbitrated, your employees still can go to state or federal court with their claims …

Disciplining employees under the modern employment laws

10/01/2007

Ask employers what their toughest challenge is, and they probably will mention discipline. It seems no one likes to play parent in the workplace. On the other hand, there’s no way to avoid it …

Steelworkers drop discipline against Goodyear strikebreakers

10/01/2007

The United Steelworkers have dropped disciplinary action against four former members who defied the union’s three-month strike at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber plant in Akron this summer …

Employment Relations Commission stops union maneuver

10/01/2007

The Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) blocked a union ploy to add Public Safety Academy teachers to an existing bargaining unit representing workers employed by a different school system …

UPS extends benefits to NJ civil-Union partners

10/01/2007

Atlanta-based UPS announced it will extend health care benefits to the civil-union partners of hourly employees in New Jersey, saying it has “received clear guidance that at least in New Jersey, the state truly views civil-union partners as married,” a company spokesman said …

Break concerns get airing before California labor commissioner

10/01/2007

On Aug. 2, the California Labor Commission convened a public forum on the topic of meal and rest-break rules to address concerns from employees and employers that the current regulations create confusing and conflicting requirements …

Can we mandate direct deposit?

10/01/2007

Q. To cut down on the administrative costs of issuing paychecks, my company would like to pay all its workers through a direct deposit to the bank of their choice. May we require our employees to accept their pay via direct deposit? …

Do your policies violate the NLRA? You might be surprised

10/01/2007

Employers beware! Do your personnel policies—or how you enforce them—violate the National Labor Relations Act? The answer may surprise you, especially if you operate in a union-free environment. Earlier this year, the National Labor Relations Board heard oral arguments in a case that will determine whether employees have the right to use their company’s e-mail system, or other communications-based systems, to communicate with each other regarding union matters and terms and conditions of employment …

AG enjoins two Texas employers in union-Organizing case

10/01/2007

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced injunctions barring two employers from enforcing “closed-shop” clauses in agreements with the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America. In July, the state sued Deco-Akal JV, of El Paso, and Asset Protections & Security Services, LP, of Corpus Christi, for suspending or threatening to suspend employees who refused to pay union dues …