Labor Relations / Unions

NLRB to hospital: It’s time we had a talk

09/22/2016

The National Labor Relations Board, which enforces the National Labor Relations Act, has issued an order telling a Minnesota employer to hold a “talk” with employees about their rights to unionize.

Columbia grad students win right to unionize

09/02/2016

The National Labor Relations Board in late August ruled that Columbia University graduate students who serve as teaching assistants may form a union.

DOL mounts vigorous defense against business groups’ lawsuits

08/26/2016

It’s been a busy summer for the beleaguered lawyers at the U.S. Department of Labor. On Aug. 19, the DOL filed briefs in three separate cases filed against it in federal courts, covering everything from benefits advice to safety records to resisting unionization.

Texas court blocks union ‘persuader’ rule, appeal likely

08/11/2016

A federal court in Texas on June 27 ruled that the Department of Labor’s controversial “persuader rule” could not go into effect July 1. An injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas means employers have at least a temporary reprieve from having to disclose who advises them on ways to discourage union organizing.

NLRB: Temps can vote in union elections, too

07/22/2016

The NLRB is at it again, this time overturning its own previous ruling that determined which employees can vote in a union election.

Unions call 87% fewer strikes than they did 25 years ago

07/14/2016

A study by the pro-union, nonprofit Century Foundation found that only 103 strikes were called in 2014, lasting an average of 35 days.

Bosses are first line of defense against unions

07/08/2016

Before a union election can be scheduled, the union must first obtain authorization cards from at least 30% of employees in a proposed bargaining unit.

Philadelphia union local launches drone attack

07/05/2016

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 and its president, John Dougherty, have recently purchased three quadcopter drones outfitted with high-resolution cameras to fly over worksites around the city.

NLRB ambush election rule upheld by 5th Circuit

06/23/2016

In a significant defeat for small business, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on June 10 upheld the National Labor Relations Board’s controversial “ambush election” rule that critics say unfairly makes it easier for unions to organize.

WHD takes $160K bite out of Fremont’s BitMICRO

06/22/2016

BitMICRO in Fremont, Ca., will pay more than $160,000 in back pay, overtime and penalties to engineers it brought in on the cheap from the Philippines.