By now you're aware of the NLRB's proposed rule changes
aimed at speeding up elections to make it easier for unions to
organize. (See our Legal Alert
"Unions In Decline? Labor Board To The
Rescue!" June 30, 2011).
The Department of Labor has also joined the fight to try and
keep unions healthy, with rule changes of its own. These proposals
affect a law most employers are unfamiliar with but which could,
directly or indirectly, alter how you communicate with your
employees about unions. It's known as the LMRDA.
Background
The laws surrounding union-organizing campaigns can be
convoluted and sometimes counterintuitive. To help themselves
through the minefield of potential liability, many employers turn
to labor attorneys or other outside consultants for advice and
guidance. A law known as the Labor Management Reporting and
Disclosure Act (LMRDA) requires employers to report any agreement
or financial arrangements that they may have with such a third
party, if
