Do you wonder why a large inflatable rat stands nearby when a union is picketing? In the building trades, “rat” is a term that unions sometimes use to refer to a non-union contractor. A union typically sets up its inflatable rat (or, in some cases, a skunk) at its picket line at a site (e.g.,
Unions
Labor Thoughts – Labor Peace Agreements, Split in Organized Labor, $400,000 Strikers?
By Bryan M. O'Keefe on
Labor Peace Agreements Leading to Successful Organizing: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Workplace Freedom Initiative has released a new report, “Labor Peace Agreements: Local Government as a Union Advocate.” The report is a comprehensive overview of local “labor peace” legislation that is becoming more commonplace nationwide. The trend noted by the Chamber usually…
Labor Union Membership Declines Sharply for Younger Workers
By Bryan M. O'Keefe on
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual report on union membership last week. Like most of these reports in recent years, it was bleak and gloomy news for organized labor. Private sector union membership continued its downward plummet and now stands at a paltry 6.6%. This is down from 6.9% last year. Perhaps, even…
NLRB Announces New Rule on Witness Statements
By Bryan M. O'Keefe on
With the New Year, we see many lists offering “predictions” about what will happen in 2013 – one of my favorites is the location of the upcoming nuptials between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (an estate in France or a tent in Namibia appear to be the likely contenders).
How about one for labor and…
NLRB Releases Second Facebook Case
By Bryan M. O'Keefe on
The Labor Board has released its long-awaited second “Facebook case.” To nobody’s surprise, the NLRB has largely adopted the ALJ decision that the Facebook postings in question constitute protected concerted activity under Section 7.
In Hispanics United of Buffalo, an employee threatened to report several of her co-workers to management who she felt did…
Latest NLRB Decision on Employer Overbroad Confidentiality Policies
By Patrick M. Pilachowski on
Do you think it could possibly violate any law to require at-will non-union employees to sign a confidentiality agreement prohibiting disclosure outside the company of information relating to customers, marketing procedures, costs, prices, business plans, computer and software systems, and “personnel information and documents?” If you answered “of course not!” you would be WRONG under…
NLRB Election Rules Still Invalid
By Mark J. Swerdlin on
As we reported in May, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia invalidated the NLRB’s proposed “quickie” election rules, on the grounds that the Board lacked a proper quorum on the day of voting. Member Brian Hayes never formally voted on the rules, though he did indicate in the days before…
NLRB Protected Concerted Activity Web Page
By Darryl McCallum on
Posted in Unions
The NLRB continues to take action designed to help unions organize employees. The latest step is the Board’s recently established web page designed to inform employees of their right to engage in protected concerted activity. The web page, located at www.nlrb.gov/concerted-activity, begins with the statement: “The law we enforce gives employees the right to…
NLRB General Counsel New Social Media Report
By Mark J. Swerdlin on
The NLRB General Counsel’s office has released its third report on recent social media cases. The GC reviewed social media and confidentiality policies from several companies and found most policies unlawful. In particular, the GC found the following portions of various social media and confidentiality policies unlawful:
- “Don’t release confidential guest, team member or company
…
NLRB Board Member Flynn Resigns
By Bryan M. O'Keefe on
Posted in Labor Law & NLRB, Unions
While the rest of America was busy celebrating the long Memorial Day weekend, internal turmoil at the NLRB finally resulted in action when, on May 26, NLRB Board Member Terrence Flynn submitted his resignation. The resignation is effective July 24, but Flynn stopped conducting all agency business immediately.
As we discussed on this blog…