Labor Relations / Unions

Employees can refuse to work due to safety fears, even at nonunion site

01/01/2003

Three apartment maintenance workers refused to scrape and paint a water-damaged ceiling after they saw a TV report on airborne-asbestos health risks. When they voiced a concern, their supervisor said there …

Firing employees on FMLA leave: Occasionally legal, usually unwise

12/01/2002

While he was taking leave for depression under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Jerry Ogborn got the ax. Reason: During the absence, his employer discovered that Ogborn, a union …

Prevent pro-union postings at work by limiting personal solicitations

12/01/2002

After a union launched an organizing campaign at an Arkansas hospital, a nurse put up a screen saver on a hospital computer that said “Look for the U.” Her supervisor gave …

Off-work months during grievance don’t count toward FMLA eligibility

11/01/2002

Plant worker John Plumley was off the job for six months while he dealt with a grievance filed under the collective bargaining agreement. Ultimately, an arbitrator reinstated Plumley and awarded him …

Reach out to staff: Workers more receptive to union appeals

11/01/2002

Now’s the time to improve your employee relations. Reason: Labor unions see opportunity in the current anti-corporate mood, and they’re hoping to ride this wave of public distrust to victories in …

Don’t deny ADA accommodation due to ‘potential’ seniority break

10/01/2002

After 18 years as a truck driver, Donald Dilley developed back trouble and was limited by his doctor to lifting less than 60 pounds at a time. Dilley asked for routes …

You don’t have to bargain with union formed by coercion

09/01/2002

During an organizing campaign at a clay processing plant, pro-union senior staffers routinely threatened production and maintenance employees, telling them to support the union or else they’d be “squeezed like a …

NLRB shake-up may cause reversals on key cases

09/01/2002

You can expect some good news from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Reason: If the Senate confirms a new slate of Bush appointees to the NLRB, it will be the …

High court: Weingarten rights stand; state family leave case on docket

08/01/2002

It’s official: Employees have the right, even in nonunion workplaces, to bring a co-worker as a witness to an investigative meeting that could result in discipline. Nonunion employees won …

To beat the union heat, avoid 7 deadly management sins