Labor Relations / Unions

What’s the definition of ‘right-to-work’?

10/29/2013

Q. What is the difference between a right-to-work state and a non-right-to-work state such as Pennsylvania?

Commonwealth Court rules against Berks County Prison

10/29/2013

A Berks County Prison supervisor’s response to a schedule change request has morphed into an unfair labor practices charge after a Commonwealth Court ruled against the employer in a split decision.

The NLRB invalidates employer’s confidentiality rule

10/10/2013

Employers have long believed that they could restrict access to information about wages and benefits so employees couldn’t discuss pay rates, raises and so on. If that’s the case at your workplace, check with your attorney. The prohibition may run afoul of the NLRA, which covers the right to unionize.

Court drives nail in coffin of pro-union poster requirement

09/23/2013

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has refused an NLRB bid to retry a May case in which the court said employers couldn’t be required to display a pro-union poster.

NLRB releases mobile app describing worker rights

09/19/2013

The NLRB celebrated Labor Day by unveiling a new mobile phone app that tells employees and unions about their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

How not to handle a union movement

09/16/2013

It’s natural to feel betrayed and upset if you have an open-shop workplace and find out some employees have invited outsiders to help organize a union. But if you handle the news badly, you may end up in the cross hairs of the NLRB before a single union vote is cast.

NLRB, EEOC confidentiality stance muddles investigations

08/26/2013

The NLRB and EEOC are actively enforcing the position that a blanket policy requiring confidentiality during investigations violates federal labor and employment law. That means employers must proceed carefully and thoughtfully when making confidentiality requests during investigations.

New Flyer signs new union pact with St. Cloud workers

08/20/2013

Bus manufacturer New Flyer has agreed to a new contract with unionized employees at its St. Cloud plant. The four-year agreement provides annual wage increases of 2.5% in the first two years, 2% in the third and 2.25% in the fourth year. The pact also freezes entry-level wages and increases the amount of time it takes new employees to max out on pay.

Austin settles with UAW local, ending drawn-out negotiation

08/20/2013

The city of Austin has settled a long-running labor dispute with its street, wastewater treatment, and parks and recreation workers represented by the United Auto Workers union. For three years, the two sides clashed over payday schedules, overtime and alleged salary structure inequities.

NLRB ruling shows risk of Facebook discipline

07/31/2013

The National Labor Relations Board last month ordered a New York City tour bus company to reinstate a tour guide that it fired for his anti-company Facebook posts. It said his postings were considered “protected concerted activity” that related to the employer’s working conditions.