Tag: Union Organizing

Quickie election rules are coming—are your managers and supervisors ready?

by Robert M. Vercruysse In February 2014, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) once again announced that it was going to change the rules for Board-conducted elections. This time, there is a properly appointed five-member NLRB. The Board’s previous attempt to change the election rules failed because the courts held that it didn’t have a […]

NLRB invites briefs in Northwestern football case

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is inviting interested parties to submit briefs on the Northwestern University football case. Briefs must be submitted on or before June 26, 2014. At the request of the university, the NLRB agreed on April 24 to review the decision of a regional director finding that the university’s scholarship football […]

UAW plans to take fight over VW vote to Congress

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has dropped its appeal of a union vote at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but instead of giving up, the union says it will turn its attention toward Congress. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) had scheduled an April 21 hearing in Chattanooga on the appeal of a […]

NLRB, Congress mull changes to regulations on union elections

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) wrapped up a two-day meeting April 11 in which both foes and supporters spoke out about a proposed change to the rules governing union representation elections. But even before spokespersons of pro-union and pro-business interests began their statements, a U.S. House of Representatives Committee was advancing bills aimed at […]

Volkswagen’s Chattanooga workers reject UAW representation

by Bart Sisk, David Jaqua, and Valeria Gomez The votes are in, and the wait is over. In what can only be characterized as a major setback for organized labor, Volkswagen’s Chattanooga employees have voted to reject union representation by the United Auto Workers union (UAW).   Eighty-nine percent of Volkswagen’s Chattanooga employees participated in the […]

Fast-food worker strikes, ‘alt-labor’ movement spreading

A wave of strikes by fast-food and other low-wage workers continues to spread in major cities around the country as employees take action to increase their pay and gain other workplace rights and benefits. Strikes have taken place in New York City, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, and Milwaukee as the movement appears to be gaining […]

Business groups applaud ruling against NLRB poster

Probusiness groups are cheering a new ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that represents another blow to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The appeals court, which issued another ruling against the NLRB in January, ruled on May 7 that the Board exceeded its authority in its effort […]

NLRB Proposed Rules Would Streamline Unionization Process, Reducing Employers’ Time to Act

Wednesday’s Federal Register will feature a set of proposed amendments to National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) regulations that, if adopted, could significantly simplify the process wherein workers vote whether to unionize, reducing employers’ time to react to unionization efforts. According to a press release from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the proposed rules would […]

Employee Free Choice Act: What Employers Should Do Now

by Donald D. Berner and Forrest T. Rhodes The election of Barack Obama as the next president, coupled with the Democratic Party’s increased majority in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, is certain to bring changes. The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which President-elect Obama and Democratic congressional leaders vow to pass in […]

Unions, Politics, and Money: Campaign 2008

In a democracy, social issues regularly become political issues, and solutions (including compromises) are worked out through public elections. Since employers and unions are frequently on opposite sides of key issues, both attempt to involve the public and spend extensively to support their respective positions or solutions. Both the short- and long-term ramifications of this […]