Labor Relations / Unions

As economy rebounds, unions feed off ‘I want my slice!’ gripes

06/01/2010

During the past few years of deep recession, employees mostly understood your organization’s need to freeze wages, stop 401(k) matches and, in some cases, trim payrolls. But the improving economy and resulting positive headlines are causing more employees to wonder when this good news will trickle down to their own paychecks. And unions are using this unease as a way to organize new members.

N.C. union membership rate fell even more in 2009

05/28/2010

According to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), North Carolina lost 17,000 union jobs last year, cementing its position as the least-unionized state in the nation. Just 3.1% of North Carolinians belonged to a union in 2009, down from 3.5% in 2008.

Federal 4th Circuit: Let arbitrators arbitrate

05/28/2010

If a recent decision is any indication, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers North Carolina employers, is willing to let arbitrators do their jobs.

Illinois union jobs jump despite poor economy

05/17/2010

According to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois gained 12,000 union jobs last year, and the rate of union membership jumped almost a full percentage point, from 16.6% in 2008 to 17.5% in 2009. Illinois is bucking the nation’s broader union job loss trend. Nationwide, union jobs took a proportionately bigger hit during the economic downturn than nonunion jobs did.

How far can we go to discipline employees for criticizing us online?

05/14/2010

Q. Under our social media policy, we prohibit employees from disparaging our company in any social medium. Two of our employees recently uploaded a video to YouTube in which they criticize our safety record and say we don’t pay good wages. Can we terminate these employees for this activity?

How to decide: Should employers arbitrate workplace disputes?

05/14/2010

Is arbitration the best forum in which employers should try to resolve statutory claims. Significantly, some employers have begun to abandon mandatory arbitration in recent years. Here are some of the issues employers must consider when deciding whether to require arbitration of employees’ statutory claims.

Florida union membership rate falls in 2009

05/11/2010

According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Florida lost 71,000 union jobs in 2009, and now just 5.8% of Floridians belong to unions, compared to 6.4% in 2008.

New York labor union membership fell in 2009

05/11/2010

According to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New York lost 10,000 union jobs in 2009, but greater contraction in the rest of the state’s economy actually raised the percentage of New Yorkers who belong to a union. Private- and public-sector union jobs in New York fell from 2,029,000 in 2008 to 2,019,000 in 2009.

Obama appoints pro-union attorney to NLRB

05/07/2010

In a move that will tilt the balance of labor power in Washington more in favor of unions, President Obama last month appointed controversial labor attorney Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board. In February, the Senate had voted down Becker’s nomination.

Labor on the rise: Review your solicitation & distribution rules

05/06/2010

Unions are stepping up their organizing activity, and smart employers are preparing by making sure their rules on solicitation, distribution and access to private property meet legal requirements. If you don’t have a “no solicitation/no distribution” policy, adopt one now. It can help regulate two types of conduct that unions depend on when trying to organize a workplace.