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Labor Relations / Unions

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.

Rate of union membership jumped in Texas in 2009

05/06/2010
According to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas gained almost 60,000 union jobs last year, and the rate of union membership grew from 4.5% in 2008 to 5.1% in 2009.

Rate of union membership fell in Pennsylvania in 2009

04/28/2010

According to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pennsylvania lost 65,000 union jobs last year, and the rate of union membership declined from 15.4% to 15%. The number of union jobs in Pennsylvania fell from 847,000 to 782,000.

Rate of union membership fell in Minnesota in 2009

04/19/2010
According to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Minnesota lost 30,000 union jobs last year, and the rate of union membership statewide declined a full percentage point from 16.1% to 15.1%.