On April 26, 2013, the NLRB issued a ruling which found certain no solicitation – no distribution policies of the retail outlet Target Corporation improper. Per usual, these allegations developed as a result of an organizing campaign at the facility. While a portion of the rule was found lawful, the following provisions were found unlawful
NLRB
NLRB Strikes Out Again Regarding Notice Posting Rule
On May 7, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the NLRB’s August 2011 Notice Posting rule was invalid. Given that the Court had previously enjoined the implementation of the rule, such a ruling comes as no surprise. However, the Court did not rule as to whether the…
NLRB to Take the Recess Appointment Scuffle to the Supreme Court
When the D.C. Circuit issued its opinion in Noel Canning v. NLRB in January 2013, it caused representatives of labor and management across the country to put down their union by-laws and collective bargaining agreements and pick up another sacred text: the U.S. Constitution. As reported here, the court invalidated President Obama’s recess appointments…
Healthcare Still a Target for Organizing
While union organizing is decreasing in so many other parts of the economy, healthcare remains a target. The Service Employees International Union in particular continues in its efforts to organize healthcare facilities throughout the U.S. A recent example as to how disruptive such actions can be is set out in a recent settlement agreement reached…
Why Can’t We All Play Nice? Obama’s Recess Appointments Struck Down
On January 25, 2013, the D.C. Circuit Court invalidated President Obama’s three appointments to the National Labor Relations Board. The decision in Canning v. NLRB not only calls into question the “recess appointment” power of the President, but could paralyze the NLRB by putting hundreds of decisions in jeopardy.
Presidents have made so-called recess appointments…
Paying Your (Employees’) Dues
On December 12, 2012, the NLRB reversed longstanding precedent in WKYC-TV, Inc., holding that dues checkoff provisions continue in force after the labor contract expires. (“Dues checkoff” is the act of deducting union dues from employees’ wages and remitting them to the union.) This decision overruled Bethlehem Steel, 136 N.L.R.B. 1500 (1962), which…
Recent NLRB Administrative Decision Addresses a Union’s Liability for Its Facebook Page
Recently, the NLRB has issued a number of decisions addressing social media in the workplace as it pertains to employers. Last month, however, an NLRB judge rendered a decision addressing a Union’s potential liability and responsibilities for social media activities on its own Facebook page. Interestingly, the judge addressed the posts and comments of the…
“Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About” – Confidentiality in Workplace Investigations
The NLRB’s recent decision in Banner Health System, 358 NLRB No. 93 (2012) has tongues wagging, and not just in the blogsphere. In a controversial decision, the NLRB struck down an employment policy requiring employee confidentiality during workplace investigations. The Board held that this type of “blanket” policy potentially prevents employees from engaging in…
New NLRB Ruling Leaves Many Questions Unanswered for Non-Union Employers
On September 28, 2012, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) issued its decision in Karl Knauz Motors, Inc., 358 NLRB No. 164 (2012). The NLRB affirmed an Administrative Law Judge’s findings that a car dealership did not violate the National Labor Relations Act (“Act”) after it terminated a salesperson for his posts on Facebook. …
Hospital Access Rules Under Attack
In a 2-1 decision in Sodexo America LLC, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) held recently that the University of Southern California hospital violated Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act by maintaining and enforcing a rule that limited off-duty employee access to the workplace, except for specific purposes.
The policy at issue…