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Labor Relations / Unions

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 …

Can I stop employees from organizing?

10/01/2007

Q. How do I prevent employees from talking to a union or going to the National Labor Relations Board?

Caution when dealing with employees’ ‘protected concerted activity’

10/01/2007
Q. I recently received a memo signed by all four employees in one department asking for 5% raises. Can I have a meeting with them to let them know that there is no money for raises, that their department could easily be eliminated and that they would be smarter just to keep a low profile and do their jobs?

Religious objection to union dues not limited to a few

09/01/2007

An Ohio public employee collective-bargaining law exemption that allows workers to forgo paying union dues because of religious beliefs has been applied too narrowly, the U.S. District Court, Southern District, has decided …

Caterpillar sues UAW over retiree health benefits suits

09/01/2007

Caterpillar Inc. has filed lawsuits to force the United Auto Workers (UAW) to pay for health care for retirees as agreed in union-negotiated contracts. Caterpillar says the UAW is backing two class-action lawsuits seeking free lifetime coverage for retirees and spouses, which the company says violates collective-bargaining agreements …

City settles meter reader’s race claim

09/01/2007

Port St. Lucie has settled a race discrimination claim filed by a demoted meter reader for $60,000 and a promotion. The black woman filing the suit was a meter reader supervisor when she was called away for duty in the Army Reserve. Upon returning, she found she had been demoted and a white male now held her position …

Attorney general cracks down on forced unionization

09/01/2007

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott recently sued employers and a labor organization in El Paso and Corpus Christi for allegedly forcing employees to become union members or pay union dues in violation of the state’s right-to-work law …

High court says Labor Dept. right to limit overtime for some

08/01/2007

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled unanimously in a closely watched overtime case that employees classified as home health care workers aren’t entitled to some Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) protections …