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Labor Relations / Unions

Employees say they want a union? Here’s how not to respond

11/08/2013

It’s natural to feel betrayed and up­­­set if you discover that some employees have invited outsiders to help organize a union at your workplace. Best bet: Think and learn before you act. If you handle the news incorrectly, you may end up in the cross hairs of the NLRB.

Where should we display labor law posters?

10/29/2013
Q. I recently heard that some of our posters have to be displayed where applicants can see them, not just our employees. Is that true?

What’s the definition of ‘right-to-work’?

10/29/2013
Q. What is the difference between a right-to-work state and a non-right-to-work state such as Pennsylvania?

Commonwealth Court rules against Berks County Prison

10/29/2013
A Berks County Prison supervisor’s response to a schedule change request has morphed into an unfair labor practices charge after a Com­­mon­­wealth Court ruled against the employer in a split decision.

The NLRB invalidates employer’s confidentiality rule

10/10/2013
Employers have long believed that they could restrict access to information about wages and benefits so employees couldn’t discuss pay rates, raises and so on. If that’s the case at your workplace, check with your attorney. The prohibition may run afoul of the NLRA, which covers the right to unionize.

Court drives nail in coffin of pro-union poster requirement

09/23/2013
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has refused an NLRB bid to retry a May case in which the court said employers couldn’t be required to display a pro-union poster.

NLRB releases mobile app describing worker rights

09/19/2013
The NLRB celebrated Labor Day by unveiling a new mobile phone app that tells employees and unions about their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

How not to handle a union movement

09/16/2013

It’s natural to feel betrayed and up­set if you have an open-shop workplace and find out some employees have invited outsiders to help organize a union. But if you handle the news badly, you may end up in the cross hairs of the NLRB before a single union vote is cast.

NLRB, EEOC confidentiality stance muddles investigations

08/26/2013

The NLRB and EEOC are actively enforcing the position that a blanket policy requiring confidentiality during investigations violates federal labor and employment law. That means employers must proceed carefully and thoughtfully when making confidentiality requests during investigations.

New Flyer signs new union pact with St. Cloud workers

08/20/2013
Bus manufacturer New Flyer has agreed to a new contract with unionized employees at its St. Cloud plant. The four-year agreement provides annual wage increases of 2.5% in the first two years, 2% in the third and 2.25% in the fourth year. The pact also freezes entry-level wages and increases the amount of time it takes new employees to max out on pay.