Labor Relations / Unions

Labor relations sour at American Crystal Sugar

02/12/2016

American Crystal Sugar in Moorehead fired a warning shot across the bow of the union that represents employees when it announced in November that it wanted to begin contract negotiations early.

Court upholds union for personal care assistants

02/12/2016

A federal appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a Minnesota law that allows personal care assistants to unionize. A business group representing for-profit companies that provide in-home care filed the lawsuit.

11.1% of workers belong to a union, membership rate held steady in 2015

02/10/2016

The union membership rate—the percent of hourly and salaried workers who were union members—was 11.1% in 2015, unchanged from 2014, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Supreme Court skeptical about required union dues

02/01/2016

Organized labor had what appeared to be a bad day in court Jan. 11 when the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that asked whether government employees can be required to pay union dues if they object to the union’s political activities.

Hourly pay for temps could create ’employees’

01/04/2016

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Pennsylvania employers, has ruled that paying an hourly rate for temporary employees coming from an outside agency may mean those workers are your “employees” under anti-discrimination laws.

Labor issues looming from new TPP trade agreement

11/23/2015

The recently negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement will go before Congress for ratification next year. Organized labor has been one of the most vocal critics of the pact and certainly labor leaders will be scrutinizing the agreement’s Chapter 19.

The NLRB ‘joint employer’ decision: New risks, new liability

11/09/2015

Under a new standard, many contingent employment arrangements may open the door to union organizing activities.

Key Supreme Court case could affect controversial union shop fees

11/09/2015

Among the cases that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear during its 2015-2016 term is one of particular significance to those in the public sector—Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. A decision in favor of the plaintiffs has the potential to affect the implementation and regulation of union agency shop fees nationwide.

The big UAW/automaker contract: What it means for the rest of us

11/03/2015

Pay attention to the deal struck recently between the top automakers, GM and Chrysler, and the United Auto Workers, the largest union representing autoworkers.

‘Evergreen clause’ may mean contract didn’t expire

10/21/2015

Here’s something to consider when contracting with a union. If the contract contains a so-called “evergreen clause,” be sure to follow the directions if you want to cancel the agreement after a term.