On October 14, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or the “Board”) issued a press release confirming the continued increase in union organizing efforts. While the NLRB did not attribute any particular reason for the upward trajectory in petition filings, this trend, which has sharply risen over the last

Shanice Z. Smith-Banks
Shanice is an associate in the Labor Department. Shanice is a member of several of the firm’s Practice Groups, including Investigations, Labor Management Relations and Counseling, Training & Pay Equity. Her practice involves assisting clients in litigations, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings surrounding claims of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She has experience assisting with workplace investigations, pay equity analyses, and counseling clients on a range of employment matters. Relative to her labor relations practice, Shanice assists with representation proceedings, responding to unfair labor practice charges and counseling clients surrounding union organizing efforts and collective bargaining.
Shanice was awarded one of Proskauer’s Golden Gavel Awards in 2023 celebrating excellence in pro bono work. Shanice’s pro bono efforts focus on criminal justice and immigration work. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where immediately upon graduation, Shanice argued a case on behalf of the Loyola Criminal Defense Law Clinic in front of the Louisiana Supreme Court.
NLRB GC Abruzzo Issues Memo Calling for Harsher Remedies for Noncompetes and Stay or Pay Provisions That Violate the NLRA
On October 7, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB” or the “Board”) General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, released MEMORANDUM GC 25-01, titled “Remedying the Harmful Effects of Non-Compete and “Stay-or-Pay” Provisions that Violate the National Labor Relations Act.” GC Abruzzo states in the memo that she intends to urge…
BREAKING: Senate Recesses Before Election Without Voting on NLRB Nominees
On September 25, 2024, the U.S. Senate adjourned for a lengthy recess and is not set to return until November 12th, after the upcoming election. The adjournment comes before the Senate was able to vote on two of President Biden’s nominees for the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or the…
Appellate Court Rejects NLRB’s Findings in Employer Surveillance Case as “Nonsense”
Declaring the NLRB’s rationale to be “nonsense,” on March 26, 2024, a unanimous three-judge panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in Stern Produce Company Inc v. NLRB, refused to enforce the agency’s finding of unfair labor practices.
The Court held that the…
New GC Memo Providing Guidance on Cemex Decision
As recently discussed, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) issued a major decision this summer in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC, 372 NLRB No. 130 (2023). The decision gave labor unions the upper hand in the organizing process by requiring employers to take union demands for recognition much…
NLRB General Counsel Promises “Vigorous” Enforcement of Employees’ Rights to Engage in Workplace Advocacy Related to Social Issues and Health and Safety Concerns
On March 31, 2021, the NLRB’s Acting General Counsel Peter Ohr issued a Memorandum entitled “Effectuation of the National Labor Relations Act through Vigorous Enforcement of Mutual Aid or Protection and Inherently Concerted Doctrines” to all Regional Directors. While the Memorandum does not change NLRB precedent in any respect, it…
NLRB Suffers Significant Turnover in Agency Staffing
In a report released on March 29, 2021, the Governmental Accountability Office (“GAO”) announced that between fiscal years 2010 and 2019, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) experienced a 26% decrease in total staff. The most significant reductions taking place in Regional offices which saw a 33% reduction compared to…