Labor Relations / Unions

Beware applicants who are really union organizers

07/01/2008

If your company isn’t a union employer, that doesn’t mean you can ignore the National Labor Relations Act. Chances are, someone wants to make your company a union workplace and will try to trick you into becoming one. In fact, one of your job applicants may be that wolf in sheep’s clothing. He or she will lie to get a job—and then call in the union organizers …

State workers get union ballots

07/01/2008

A drive by the labor coalition Colorado WINS to represent 32,000 state government employees through “partnership agreements” has seen a successful, if not overwhelming, first round. Roughly 30% of 22,500 state workers who received ballots in May returned them, with a majority voting to join in the agreements …

More woes at American Axle

06/12/2008

Less than half of the hourly employees who returned to work following an 87-day strike at American Axle & Manufacturing will have jobs in a year, the company announced. The company also will cut its hourly labor rate, including wages and benefits, by half …

Paying for steward’s time spent on the grievance process

06/12/2008

Q. We have a problem with the union steward in our plant. He seems to think that his primary responsibility is working for the union, and that his job is secondary. He spends an inordinate amount of time filing and working on grievances. Are we required to pay an employee who is the union steward for time spent on union activities? …

Seek legal assistance when negotiating contract terms with union

06/11/2008

It may be tempting for HR professionals to try to negotiate and draft key aspects of union collective-bargaining agreements. But there are good reasons to leave collective bargaining to labor relations and legal experts …

UAW, Caterpillar workers sue for the right to smoke

06/11/2008

The United Auto Workers (UAW) has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Caterpillar Inc., claiming the company has no right to ban smoking without negotiating the terms in collective bargaining. Peoria-based Caterpillar banned smoking in all its U.S. facilities effective June 1…

E-Mail policies and the NLRA

06/10/2008

Q. I work in the HR department of a unionized company, and our CEO wants me to draw up an employee e-mail use policy. Can I restrict personal e-mail use without violating the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)? …

Big bad SEIU wolf turns out to be grandma

06/06/2008

It turns out the California Nurses Association (CNA) may have been exaggerating slightly when it accused members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) of stalking and harassment. The two unions are engaged in competing efforts to represent Ohio nurses …

Colorado voters may have chance to weigh in on ‘Right to work’

06/03/2008

Over objections from the governor’s office, the lobbying group “A Better Colorado” has apparently submitted enough valid signatures to put a referendum on the November ballot to ban all-union workplaces in Colorado …

Don’t think federal laws always trump state claims

05/30/2008

A recent 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision makes one thing clear: Employees and their lawyers are always looking for novel ways to sue employers—and sometimes state law gives them additional ways to do just that …