December was a busy month for the National Labor Relations Board. First the NLRB issued a revised union election rule that shortened election times from the date of petition from an average of 38 days to a potential low of 14 days.   

Unions are hoping the change will reverse their long decline in attracting new members. Plus, two significant cases were decided that overturned long-standing precedent.  First, the Board ruled in Purple Communications that employees may use corporate email during non-working time for union organizing purposes.  A footnote in that case also reversed precedent that said employers may prohibit employee use of employers' photocopiers (with scrap paper) for organizing purposes.  The other important case, Babcock & Wilcox, the Board changed its standard for deferral to arbitration awards, grievance/arbitration proceedings and pre-arbitration grievance settlements in cases where it is alleged that employees suffered retaliation or reprisal for engaging in protected concerted activity.  The Board is now expected to get involved early and often and potentially interrupt the arbitration process.   

A FREE WEBINAR covering the new election rules and cases above will be held February 12 with PIA's Jim Kyger.  To register, CLICK HERE.  Make sure you are logged into the website as a member to get the webinar free.  If you need help with your login, feel free to call Member Central at 1-800-910-4283 (ext. 770). 

The rate of the more serious cases resulting in days away from work decreased, from 1.5 in FY2012 to 0.8 in FY 2013. Even though the number of fatalities in the industry went down as well, from 4 in FY2012 to 3 in FY2013, any fatality is obviously unacceptable. Of the fatalities, 1 was related to contact with objects or equipment and the others were not classifiable, but were related to manufacturing operations.  The complete printing industry and illness data with more details can be viewed by clicking HERE.