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Labor Relations / Unions

More union members in 2011, thanks to private-sector gains

03/08/2012

Changing economic conditions and favorable rule-making in Washington helped U.S. union membership in­­crease to 14.8 million workers last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Texas has been immune to the spike, however. Just 5.2% of the state’s workers belong to a labor union.

More union members in 2011, thanks to private-sector gains

03/05/2012
Changing economic conditions and favorable rule-making in Washington helped U.S. union membership in­­crease to 14.8 million workers last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Ohio, 13.4% of workers belong to a union.

Seek expert legal help when dealing with NLRB

03/05/2012

Employers that find themselves in the cross hairs of the National Labor Relations Board should get expert legal help, especially if charged with unfair labor practices. That’s because once the NLRB concludes you fired employees for engaging in protected activity, it is very hard to argue against those employees’ eventual reinstatement.

Unions growing nationwide, but not in North Carolina

02/24/2012
Changing economic conditions and favorable rule-making in Washington helped U.S. union membership increase to 14.8 million workers last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Just don’t look for the evidence in North Carolina.

More union members in 2011, thanks to private-sector gains

02/22/2012

Changing economic conditions and favorable rule-making in Washington helped U.S. union membership increase to 14.8 million workers last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Organized labor gained 49,000 new members in 2011.

NLRB’s latest crack at social media policy? What a mess!

02/03/2012
In late January, the National Labor Relations Board released an “Operations Management Memo” that purports to offer additional guidance to employers and HR professionals concerned about employees’ use of social media. I can sum up the NLRB’s report in three words: What a mess.

Heads up! Employment law in the news means employee chatter

01/31/2012
There’s plenty of employment law news making its way into the mainstream media. That means the workplace will be buzzing with em­­ployee chatter about working conditions, pay and unions. Prepare now for how to react.

NLRB continues with controversial moves and appointments

01/31/2012
Last year ended and 2012 began with a flurry of activity from the National Labor Relations Board NLRB. Between controversial appointments to the board and action on two new rules concerning organized labor, the NLRB has given employers much to watch.

What should we do? The law and our union rules are on a collision course over harassment

01/25/2012
Q. Our union agreement says we must give 48 hours’ notice before dismissing a regular employee. But we have proof that two employees have been har­­assing—and continue to harass—black and gay em­­ployees. In fact, their har­ass­ment just caused us to lose a good em­­ployee who couldn’t take it any ­longer. What trumps what?

Labor pains: NLRB keeps turning out anti-business hits

01/20/2012
The National Labor Relations Board is continuing its string of pro-union actions: 1. Arbitration agreements can’t ban class-action lawsuits. 2. New rules will speed up union elections. 3. Poster requirement delayed to April 30. 4. NLRB makes controversial recess appointments.