Labor Relations / Unions

Unions win more elections during Trump administration

05/21/2018

Unions won 1,013 organizing elections in 2017, the first year of the Trump presidency. That’s up from 998 elections in 2016.

NLRB wants to settle troublesome joint employer issue with new rule

05/15/2018

The National Labor Relations Board is considering enacting a rule to address the standard for determining joint-employer status under the National Labor Relations Act.

Trump nominates Gustafson to be EEOC’s top lawyer

04/30/2018

President Trump has nominated Washington, D.C.-area attorney Sharon Fast Gustafson to be the new general counsel to the EEOC. The general counsel is the commission’s top litigator.

Lowry tapped for DOL post overseeing veterans employment

04/24/2018

The Trump administration has nominated John Lowry to become assistant labor secretary for veterans employment and training.

Ring confirmed for NLRB, is immediately appointed chair

04/17/2018

The Senate confirmed employment lawyer John Ring to fill the last remaining vacancy on the National labor Relations Board. The next morning, President Trump announced Ring would become chair of the NLRB. Republicans again hold a 3-2 majority on the board.

Unfair labor practices can result in union win even if employees voted union down

04/09/2018

Facing a push for unionization? Be careful! If you aggressively resist efforts to unionize and end up committing an unfair labor practice in the process, you may end up with a union workplace, even if employees vote down the union.

Spending bill makes it illegal to confiscate employees’ tips

03/27/2018

Employers won’t be allowed to pocket employees’ tips under the Department of Labor’s controversial proposed tip pooling rule now that President Trump has signed stop-gap spending legislation.

White House’s 2019 budget tips administration’s labor policy priorities

03/22/2018

While the proposed 2019 budget is needed to fund higher spending for the military, as well as to pay for the construction of a border wall and infrastructure repairs, there were few surprises in the FY2019 budget plan for cutting the budgets of federal labor and employment agencies.

McDonald’s, EEOC to settle major joint employer lawsuit

03/22/2018

McDonald’s reports that it has negotiated a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board in a long-running lawsuit that alleged the fast-food giant was as liable as a joint employer when its franchisees engaged in unfair labor practices.

Take care when responding to union résumé

03/20/2018

Here’s a warning about turning down an applicant who lists union memberships or otherwise indicated union support on his employment application. Refusing to interview him or turning him down for a job he is qualified to do may backfire.