Labor Relations / Unions

Court: Union contract limits arbitrator’s role

05/30/2012

In a union workplace, the collective bargaining agreement outlines rights for both employees and the employer. It also defines the powers an arbitrator may have if called on to interpret the contract. If the arbitrator goes too far, a court can reverse his or her decision.

NLRB union poster on hold: Can we still post it?

05/29/2012

Q. We had the NLRB union-rights notice laminated and it is ready to be posted in our break room. Now the deadline is off. Can we still display it?

New law cuts state funding in cities that restrict PLAs

05/18/2012

On April 26, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill denying state construction funds to cities that have ordinances that restrict the use of project labor agreements (PLAs).

Employee can’t sue union under California FEHA law

05/18/2012

Employees sometimes don’t agree with the way their union resolves complaints. But that doesn’t mean they can sue the union under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. They must use federal law as the basis for their lawsuits.

What do Illinois employers need to know about Indiana’s new right-to-work law?

05/16/2012

Q. We’ve heard in the news about the recently enacted Indiana right-to-work law. Could it have an effect on Illinois employers?

Operating in Texas and Louisiana? Don’t rely on union contract to handle safety

04/30/2012

Watch out if—like many Texas energy-industry employers—you also operate in Louisiana under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that covers workplace safety. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals just made life a little harder for you.

Court strikes down NLRB pro-union poster requirement

04/19/2012

A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from requiring employers to display a controversial poster telling workers they can form or join a union. An injunction indefinitely postpones the posting requirement, which was to have taken effect on April 30.

As union eyes our workforce, what should we do about its request for pay information?

04/12/2012

Q. I run a nonunion construction contracting company. We recently received a letter from a union stating that they believe we are paying substandard wages and benefits. The letter asked us to provide any information we might have to show that they are wrong and that we are paying area standard compensation to our people. Does the union have a right to this information?

Bargaining with labor unions in a changing work environment

04/12/2012

The current labor environment provides opportunities for unionized employers to negotiate more favorable collective bargaining agreements. Because of the economic realities affecting U.S. workplaces and the politics of labor unions, employers are finding that unions are open to addressing subjects on which they previously had resisted change.

Court: No arbitration for government retirement plan disputes

04/03/2012

A state appeals court has reversed a lower court ruling and held that the city of Yonkers’ refusal to reimburse new employees for their statutorily required Tier V retirement plan contributions was not subject to arbitration. Our firm—Bond, Schoeneck & King—represented the city of Yonkers in the litigation.