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Labor Relations / Unions

NLRB decision puts work-Preservation provisions in question

04/01/2008
Developers and general contractors, beware: The National Labor Relations Board has signaled it will take a closer look at work-preservation clauses. Work-preservation clauses typically limit subcontracting on construction projects to those companies that have signed on to a project labor agreement (PLA) …

Staff sour on union? Let NLRB handle decertification vote

04/01/2008
Sometimes, employees learn that having union representation might not be as good a deal as they initially thought. If that’s the case, you may find that some employees approach management about the possibility of ousting the union. Before you jump for joy, think carefully about how to go about becoming a nonunion workplace again …

AAM strike rocks GM operations across North America

04/01/2008
A strike by workers at five American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings (AAM) plants in Michigan and New York led to temporary closures at more than a dozen General Motors (GM) plants in February and March …

From singles to prayer groups: Legal risks of affinity clubs

04/01/2008
Veterans … gays … singles … Christians … new employees. For years, employees with common interests or characteristics have been banding together in lunch or after-work groups—typically with their employers’ blessing and support. These so-called affinity or support groups are a natural extension of workplace diversity. Now, however, more employers are realizing the potential risks of supporting these groups …

Union contract doesn’t mean automatic claims arbitration

03/01/2008

If your organization operates in a union environment, much of the discipline you impose will be controlled by a collective bargaining agreement. But that doesn’t always mean that you will be able to avoid court battles over discrimination claims …

Paid sick leave proposal put before legislature

03/01/2008

A proposal that would require most Ohio companies to give employees at least seven paid sick days each year is headed to the state Legislature under the Healthy Families Act …

Springfield truck plant hopes to benefit from GM deal

03/01/2008

Workers at the Springfield plant of International Truck and Engine Corp., a subsidiary of Illinois-based Navistar, are hoping to attract hundreds of new jobs through a tentative agreement to acquire General Motors Corp.’s medium-duty truck business …

Settlement ends 37-Year-Old union discrimination case

03/01/2008

A federal judge has approved a $6.2 million settlement for more than 150 sheet metal workers in a 37-year-old lawsuit against a union notorious for racial discrimination …

Do employees have the right to access their personnel files?

03/01/2008

Q. One of our employees is having disagreements with his supervisor over performance issues. The employee has asked to see his personnel file. Does he have a legal right to see his file? …

The policy and legal implications of discussing compensation

03/01/2008

Q. We recently had salary adjustment, and some of our employees have been comparing their raises. But we have a policy that states that compensation matters are confidential. Executives have asked HR to speak to the offending employees and gently remind them about our policy. I am concerned that if I speak to any of the employees, the problem will just get worse. Ideas? …