UNIONIZATION NOTICE POSTING POSTPONED

 

 

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has just postponed the date by which the now infamous "Unionization" notice must be posted. The date if now January 31, 2012.

 
The NLRB states that the postponement is due to "allow for enhanced education and outreach to employers", and "followed queries from businesses and trade organizations indicating uncertainty about which businesses fall under the Board's jurisdiction, and was made in the interest of ensuring broad voluntary compliance". Some speculate that the suits brought forth by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Federation of Independent Business and the somewhat faint rumor of a House bill to stop the notice in its entirety might have had something to do with the delay. Both the suits and the possible House bill charge that the NLRB has exceeded its authority. Those pushing for the notice are the unions and the Obama administration as a means of ensuring continued union support.

  

If you are reading this for the first time, very briefly, the notice in question advises employees that they have the right to unionize. The size of the notice is the largest required: 11" x 17". A link to the poster at the NLRB website is: www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/EmployeeRightsPoster11x17_Final.pdf

  

The poster is biased in its content. There are only 5 out of a total of 19 bullets that state what a union cannot do. The two bullets that I find most damaging are the ones that advise your employees that they can:

 

• Take action with one or more co-workers to improve your working conditions by, among other means, raising work-related complaints directly with your employer or with a government agency, and seeking help from a union.
   
•   Strike and picket, depending on the purpose or means of the strike or the picketing.

  

Again, it is not too late to write your congressperson. Links to them are:

  

Senate: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

  

House: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

  

If you have any questions regarding this matter or any other HR or actuarial matter, please call.

  

Sincerely, 

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