Labor Relations / Unions

Worker-friendly NLRB final rule makes it easier to establish joint-employer status

10/27/2023

The rule says that, under the National Labor Relations Act, two or more entities may be considered joint employers if each has an employment relationship with a group of employees, and if they play a role in controlling one or more essential terms and conditions of employment.

Prepare now for possible strikes and walkouts

10/16/2023

Across industries and across the nation, workers are voicing their displeasure with poor working conditions and low pay at a time when prices are rising and corporate profits remain high. The issues prompting strikes vary: demands for higher pay, concerns over two-tiered pay systems and complaints about being forced to return to in-person work and inadequate staffing.

Stats show unions gaining support, clout

10/02/2023

As the United Auto Workers strike against the Big 3 automotive manufacturers entered its third week—and just a day after the Writers Guild of America won major concessions to end its strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers—it’s clear that organized labor is on a roll.

Unions on the rise: What the NLRA won’t let you do

09/29/2023

With labor unions making news nationwide, now is a good time for all employers to revisit their obligations under the National Labor Relations Act. Remember, the NLRA probably applies to you regardless of whether your employees belong to a union.

NLRB expands criteria for determining what counts as ‘protected concerted activity’

09/11/2023

A new National Labor Relations Board ruling has loosened the criteria for determining if worker activities are protected by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. That part of the law guarantees employees the right to engage in “protected concerted activities” aimed at collectively improving working conditions.

Review work rules in light of NLRB’s new pro-employee ruling

08/14/2023

As political winds shift, so do National Labor Relations Board rulings. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in the realm of cases addressing worker rights under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.

What the big UPS–Teamsters Union contract means for employers

08/04/2023

United Parcel Service and the Teamsters Union, which represents more than 340,000 UPS employees, have tentatively agreed to a new union contract that—if approved by rank-and-file workers—will avert a strike that threatened to shut down the U.S. supply chain just as retailers are gearing up for busy back-to-school and holiday seasons.

Beware growing influence of pro-worker NLRB

07/20/2023

A decade ago, the National Labor Relations Board—the independent agency that enforces the National Labor Relations Act—was considered a relatively minor player on the employment-law scene compared to the Department of Labor and the EEOC. No more.

Is it OK to disable online comments to silence pro-union messages?

07/20/2023

Employees have the right under Section 7 of the NLRA to engage in protected concerted activity—to complain between and among themselves about terms and conditions of employment. This right includes the right to express an opinion in favor of unionization and against the termination of co-workers who were allegedly fired for supporting the union. Section 7 covers social media posts and comments.

NLRB moves to ban noncompetes, but options remain

07/17/2023

In a memo to the agency’s regional directors, NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo announced her conclusion that including noncompete agreements in employment and severance agreements violates the National Labor Relations Act.