Labor Relations / Unions

NLRB targets at-will disclaimers, off-duty employee access

09/21/2012

Recent months have seen the NLRB take efforts to regulate employer activity in new and often unprecedented ways. Two recent attacks include challenges to “at-will” statements and disclaimers in employee handbooks and restrictions on an employer’s right to limit access to its property by off-duty employees.

Portsmouth couple sentenced for embezzling union funds

09/17/2012

A union official will have 366 days to contemplate her actions after being convicted of embezzling from Portsmouth’s Carpenters Union Local 437.

Horseshoe Casino Cleveland employees vote to unionize

09/13/2012

On Aug. 16, an arbiter certified election results allowing employees at the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland to collectively bargain under the banner of the Cleveland Casino Workers Council.

At work and online: NLRB restricts employers’ social media rules

09/10/2012

Many employers have social media policies that attempt to control what employees say on social media. Policies that overreach may violate the NLRA. In response, the NLRB has issued a memorandum summarizing key points in its recent decisions concerning social media.

Unions try to revive NLRB poster requirement

09/05/2012

The National Labor Relations Board hasn’t given up on its bid to require U.S. employers to display a workplace poster that notifies workers of their rights to form or join a union.

Tread carefully when unions settle wage claims

09/04/2012

The DOL generally takes a dim view of any attempt to negotiate away employees’ rights under the FLSA. For example, unions can’t say “no thanks” to the minimum wage or overtime pay during collective bargaining. However, there’s a difference between losing rights through the bargaining process and accepting a settlement that resolves conflicting wage claims.

NLRB takes aim at at-will clauses in employee handbooks

08/22/2012

In a continuation of its recent anti-employer rulings, the National Labor Relations Board is now focusing on a staple of employee handbooks—at-will employment clauses that notify employees they can be terminated at any time for any lawful reason.

What is the NLRB doing with at-will status?

08/21/2012

Q. Could you explain the National Labor Relations Board’s recent challenges to at-will employment policies?

Northbrook union trustees to fix bad loans worth $1.7 million

08/21/2012

Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), trustees for the United Employee Benefit Fund in Northbrook have agreed to correct $1.7 million in improper loans made from the union retirement fund.

Albany Times Union settles with Newspaper Guild

08/03/2012

The Albany Times Union and the union representing its employees have reached a settlement following a National Labor Relations Board ruling that the newspaper violated federal labor law when it laid off three employees in the fall of 2009.