Federal labor law protects neutral (secondary) employers from becoming entangled in labor disputes between another (primary) employer and unions. For most of the past decade, however, the NLRB has allowed unions to set up various displays – including an inflatable rat (otherwise known as “Scabby”) and an inflatable “fat cat” – near neutral employers’ premises
Breathe, Stretch, … Strike?
Can employees engage in a concerted stretching exercise during work hours? The NLRB recently said yes.
The NLRA allows employees to engage in demonstrations to support their union, including demonstrations in support of contract proposals. However, the law does not protect employees from engaging in work slowdowns or other refusals to perform work. Strikes
“Whore Board” Is Protected Employee Speech, NLRB Finds.
In a recent decision, a Board panel majority found that an employee was unlawfully fired for writing “whore board” on an overtime sign-up sheet at work. This decision highlights the expansive nature of employee activity protected by the NLRA and the limited value that the NLRB can sometimes place on employer property rights.
In
The Hy-Brand Saga Ends, But The NLRB’s Joint Employer Journey Continues
On June 6, 2018, the NLRB issued two Orders that put an end to the Hy-Brand case, which briefly changed the NLRB’s standard for determining whether two employers were jointly responsible for violations of federal labor law and collective bargaining. As we explained in previous posts (links), in December 2017 the Hy-Brand Board
Columbia University Graduate Students End Their Strike…but the Saga Continues
This past Monday, April 30, marked the conclusion of a weeklong strike conducted by Columbia graduate students at the University’s campus. Timing, as people say, is sometimes everything – especially in an ongoing labor dispute – and here these graduate students scheduled a strike for the last – and busiest – week of the semester.
Remember, Protected Concerted Activity Can Take Many Forms…
On April 20, 2018, the National Labor Relations Board, by adopting an ALJ’s decision, held that employees who replied in agreement to another employee’s critical group email about the employer’s workplace were engaged in protected concerted activities under the Act. The email discussed wages, work schedules, tip policies, working conditions, and management’s treatment of employees
NLRB Follows Precedent Allowing Union Insignia At Work, But Did It Signal A Change?
Though it may come as a surprise to some employers, the NLRB generally recognizes the right of employees to wear union insignia (pins with union logos, etc.) while at work. This rule applies to hospitals, but the Board and the courts, in recognition of the sensitive nature of working in medical facilities, have restricted employees’
Undergraduate Resident Advisors May Possibly Unionize…For Now
Undergraduate resident advisors usually wield a lot of power over university residence halls and those who occupy them. You likely know this already if you were ever a college freshman living in the dorms and received a write-up or warning from your RA. But, for those who do not know, RAs – who are often
Strike and You’re Out…of the Country
Sometimes, using only one word can make all the difference between a lawful and unlawful statement. Washington University in Saint Louis learned this lesson the hard way when in late October 2017 Associate General Counsel for the NLRB’s Division of Advice Jayme L. Sophir instructed Region 14 to issue complaint, absent settlement, against the University.
Columbia University: Employee or Not Employee – That is the Question?
Graduate students at most private universities have been allowed to unionize since the 2016 decision of the NLRB in Columbia University. This decision was controversial because the employee status of graduate students has flip-flopped over time, depending on whether members appointed by Democratic or Republican Presidents controlled the Board. Since 2016, the makeup of