Three New Executive Orders Benefit Organized Labor

On January 30, 2009, just over a week after being sworn in, President Barack H. Obama signed three separate executive orders, each of which affects employers that contract with the federal government and may significantly help labor unions organize workers. Firms in the senior living industry should carefully analyze the specifics of these orders and quickly determine if they apply to their organizations and how they will impact their labor relations.

The first of these orders will prohibit federal agencies from allowing as reimbursable costs any expenses incurred by contracting employers "to persuade employees — whether employees of the recipient of the Federal disbursements or of any other entity — to exercise or not to exercise, or concerning the manner of exercising, the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of the employees' own choosing." The second order will require employers with certain federal contracts to post a notice