Labor Relations Update

Tag Archives: General Counsel

BREAKING: General Counsel Abruzzo Announces that College Athletes Are Employees

By Steven Porzio and Elizabeth Dailey on Posted in NLRB
Today, General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo issued a very significant memorandum on the status of college athletes as “employees” under the National Labor Relations Act. Statutory Rights of Players at Academic Institutions (Student-Athletes) Under the National Labor Relations Act, GC 21-08 (September 29, 2021). In today’s memorandum, GC Abruzzo reinstates a former GC Memorandum, GC 17-01, … Continue Reading

D.C. Circuit Court Rules NLRB’s Access to Property Test is Arbitrary

By Steven Porzio and Rachel Kessler on Posted in Uncategorized
General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, Jennifer Abruzzo, is already on her way to accomplishing one of the objectives she laid out in her recent Advice-Memorandum 21-04 (discussed here earlier on this blog). In the GC’s memo, she identified a number of Board decisions to re-evaluate, including Bexar County Performing Arts Ctr. Found., … Continue Reading

New NLRB General Counsel Signals Greater Utilization of 10(j) Injunctions

By Steven Porzio, Joshua Fox and Thomas B. Fiascone on Posted in Uncategorized
The recently-sworn in General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, Jennifer Abruzzo, has had a busy month, setting the stage for a slate of new enforcement initiatives.  First, the GC issued Advice Memorandum 21-04 (discussed here last week), identifying numerous Board decisions that are all but certain to be reassessed once the full complement … Continue Reading

District Court Approves of President Biden’s Firing of Former NLRB General Counsel, But is This the Final Word?

By Steven Porzio and Elizabeth Dailey on Posted in Biden Administration Coverage
As we reported here and here, there are several challenges to the authority of the Acting General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, Peter Sung Ohr, given President Biden’s unprecedented move of terminating the sitting General Counsel, Peter Robb, in January 2021. One recent challenge to the Acting General Counsel’s authority was brought before … Continue Reading

NLRB Declines to Address Validity of Acting GC’s Appointment, Instead Deferring the Issue to the Courts

By Steven Porzio, Joshua Fox and Scott Tan on Posted in NLRB
On April 30, 2021, in National Association of Broadcast Employees & Technicians, 370 NLRB No. 114 (2021), the Board declined to opine on the validity of President Biden’s termination of former General Counsel Peter Robb and subsequent replacement with Acting General Counsel Peter Sung Ohr.  It now sets the stage for a federal court of … Continue Reading

NLRB Acting General Counsel Strikes Again, Directs Agency to Withdraw Complaints Attacking Neutrality Agreements

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Dominique Kilmartin on Posted in NLRB
As we recently reported, National Labor Relations Board Acting General Counsel Peter Sung Ohr recently gave us a peek behind the curtain at his prosecutorial priorities as General Counsel when he rolled back a number of General Counsel Memoranda issued by his predecessor, Peter Robb.  Consistent with that roll back, Ohr recently directed the agency … Continue Reading

NLRB Acting General Counsel Rolls Back Guidance from Prior Administration

By Mark Theodore, Michael Lebowich, Joshua Fox and Alex Downie on Posted in NLRB
On February 1, National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) Acting General Counsel Peter Sung Ohr rescinded a slew of General Counsel Memos issued by his predecessor, Peter Robb. On February 2, Ohr continued his actions by rolling back two Operations Management memos that were also issued during Robb’s term. Ohr’s actions come one week after he … Continue Reading

NLRB Sees First Challenge to the Authority of Acting NLRB General Counsel’s to Process Unfair Labor Practice Cases after Recent Shakeup

By Michael Lebowich, Joshua Fox and Samantha Shear on Posted in NLRB
In the first known of its kind objection to an ongoing NLRB proceeding, an employer has urged the NLRB to dismiss an unfair labor charge against it, arguing that the agency is unable to prosecute the matter, in light of President Biden’s unprecedented firing of then-General Counsel Peter Robb and Deputy GC Alice Stock, and … Continue Reading

NLRB Holds that Leaflet Outlining Consequences for Threatening Workers Is Not Unlawful

By Joshua Fox, Jacob P. Tucker and Mark Theodore on Posted in Uncategorized
In adopting the ALJ’s Recommended Order in S&S Enterprises, LLC d/b/a Appalachian Heating, Case No. 09-CA-235304, the NLRB found that a leaflet distributed by the employer during union organizing efforts, which stated that it is against federal law for a labor union to threaten employees, did not violate the NLRA because it did not constitute … Continue Reading

NLRB Issues Several Advice Memoranda Providing Guidance on COVID-Related and Other Workplace Issues

By Steven Porzio, Joshua Fox, Dominique Kilmartin and Jordan Simon on Posted in Uncategorized
On September 15, 2020, the National Labor Relations Board (the “NLRB” or “Board”) Division of Advice (“Advice”), published four Advice Memoranda addressing an array of issues ranging from COVID-19-related unilateral actions to non-work political advocacy and the legality of confidentiality provisions in separation agreements.  The Memoranda were drafted by Advice last month, and join the … Continue Reading

NLRB General Counsel Issues Guidance on the Duty to Bargain During Emergencies

By Peter D. Conrad, Joshua Fox and Scott Tan on Posted in Advice, Collective Bargaining, COVID-19, General Counsel, Healthcare Employers, NLRA, NLRB, Section 8(a)(3), Section 8(a)(5), Unfair Labor Practices
On March 27, 2020, NLRB General Counsel Peter Robb issued Memorandum GC-20-04 to provide guidance to NLRB regional offices and the general public. Acknowledging that “we are [currently] in an unprecedented situation,” the General Counsel provided summaries of several NLRB decisions discussing how, if at all, an employer’s duty to bargain under  NLRA Section 8(d) … Continue Reading

NLRB Finds Employer Lawfully Terminated “Known” Union Supporter Despite Finding Its Justification Was Pretextual

By Steven Porzio and Laura Franks on Posted in General Counsel, NLRA, NLRB, Section 8(a)(3), Unfair Labor Practices
In a 2-1 decision issued on August 2, 2019, the National Labor Relations Board (the “Board”) in Electrolux Home Products, Inc., 368 NLRB No. 34 (2019) reversed an Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) decision, and held that Electrolux’s discharge of a “known” union supporter employee did not violate the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA” or “Act”), … Continue Reading

NLRB General Counsel Issues Handbook on Handbook Rules

By Michael Lebowich, Joshua Fox and Jay M. Cohen on Posted in Advice, General Counsel, Handbook, NLRA, NLRB, Non-Union employers, Section 7, Uncategorized
Following up on the NLRB’s decision in The Boeing Company, 365 NLRB No. 154 (Dec. 14, 2017), on June 6, NLRB General Counsel Peter Robb issued a new Guidance Memorandum (18-04) detailing how NLRB Regional Offices receiving claims of improper employment policies are to interpret employer workplace rules. As we reported this past December (here), … Continue Reading

NLRB Gains a New General Counsel With Senate Confirmation of Peter B. Robb

By Mark Theodore on Posted in General Counsel, NLRA, NLRB, Uncategorized
By a vote of 49 to 46, the U.S. Senate confirmed Peter B. Robb as the General Counsel of the NLRB.  Mr. Robb, who replaces former General Counsel Richard Griffin, is the 33rd person to hold the position since the NLRA was passed in 1935.  We have previously discussed how the newly constituted Board is likely to change … Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Appointment of William J. Emanuel to NLRB; Board Has Full Complement,- For Now

By Mark Theodore on Posted in General Counsel, NLRA, NLRB, Uncategorized
In a 49-47 vote today, the Senate confirmed William J. Emanuel’s appointment to the NLRB.  Once Mr. Emanuel is sworn in, it will be first time since 2015 that the NLRB has had a full five members.  Before 2015, years of gridlock often saw the Board at less than full strength, which resulted in all sorts of mayhem, … Continue Reading

HR Generalist’s Threat To Bring In Union Not Protected, NLRB Rules

By Mark Theodore on Posted in Employer policies, General Counsel, NLRA, NLRB, Non-Union employers, Protected activity, Section 8(a)(1), Uncategorized
One of the most interesting things about labor relations is the unusual situations human resources professionals have to deal with on a day to day basis.  If you are at a cocktail party with a human resources professional, ask them what the most unusual thing they’ve ever encountered on the job and chances are you’ll … Continue Reading

Supreme Court Holds that Lafe Solomon Improperly Served as NLRB General Counsel

By Mark Theodore and Joshua Fox on Posted in General Counsel, NLRB, Unfair Labor Practices
The Supreme Court has dealt another blow to the stability of the National Labor Relations Board. In a 6-2 decision, in, National Labor Relations Board v. SW General, Inc. DBA Southwest Ambulance, USSC Case No. 15-1251 (March 21, 2017),  the  Court held that the NLRB’s prior Acting General Counsel, Lafe Solomon, who served as acting GC while awaiting … Continue Reading

DC Circuit: NLRB Acting General Counsel Solomon’s Tenure Violated Vacancy Statute, Unfair Labor Practice Complaint Unauthorized

By Mark Theodore on Posted in NLRA, NLRB, Recess appointments, Uncategorized
The political gridlock in Washington DC caused several years of tumult at the NLRB, spawning two Supreme Court decisions (Noel Canning and New Process Steel) and several courts of appeals decisions regarding the Board’s ability to act without regular appointments, and resulted in scores of decisions having to be reconsidered by a newly constituted Board.  Most … Continue Reading

Furloughed NLRB Employees Return to Work — Will GC Nominee Griffin be Next?

By Ronald Meisburg on Posted in General Counsel, Uncategorized
On the same day that furloughed federal government employees are returning to work, it is being reported that a roll call vote will be scheduled in the Senate to invoke cloture (i.e., end debate) on the nomination of Richard Griffin to be General Counsel of the NLRB.  The vote is reportedly scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28, 2013.  We assume that cloture … Continue Reading

I Just Want to Testify

By Ronald Meisburg on Posted in General Counsel, NLRB
I had the opportunity last week to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, Subcomittee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.  The subject of my testimony was “What to Look for from the New NLRB.”  A copy of my written testimony is here, and I trust readers will find it of interest. With … Continue Reading

Employer Merely Granted Employee’s Wish To Be Terminated, NLRB Div. Of Advice Rules

By Mark Theodore on Posted in Advice, Facebook, General Counsel, Handbook, NLRA, NLRB, Non-Union employers, Protected activity, Section 7, Section 8(a)(1), Social Media, Social Media Policies
Social media permeates society.  It was inevitable that the increased use of smart phones and various communications platforms such as Facebook and Twitter would clash with the workplace.  We have noted several instances where the NLRB has alleged that employer action in response to social media posts is unlawful, as well as its seemingly endless review … Continue Reading

NLRB Pulls Back A Little More On Policy Frenzy, Finds Code Of Conduct Does Not Violate The Act

By Mark Theodore on Posted in Advice, At-Will, Employer policies, General Counsel, Handbook, Mandatory submissions, NLRA, NLRB, Section 7, Social Media Policies, Uncategorized
As we have seen repeatedly in the last year, the NLRB has taken it upon itself to police employer policies often finding a phrase or two to be a violation of the Act.  In recent months we have seen the NLRB seemingly pullback on this trend, taking a much closer look at the context of … Continue Reading

Holiday Season Extravaganza: NLRB Issues Flurry Of Law Changing Decisions

By Mark Theodore on Posted in Arbitration, Collective Bargaining, Duty to furnish information, Duty to provide information, Facebook, General Counsel, NLRA, NLRB, Pre-arbitration Discovery, Protected activity, Section 7, Section 8(a)(1), Section 8(a)(5), Uncategorized
Last week the NLRB issued several significant decisions.   In the press release announcing the decisions, the agency noted that most were actually issued “the week of December 10, but were issued this week following editing and formatting which is typical for the final decisions in a Member’s term.”  This is a reference to Member Hayes’ … Continue Reading

NLRB Division, Some “At-Will” Clauses Ok

By Mark Theodore on Posted in Advice, At-Will, Employer policies, General Counsel, Handbook, NLRA, NLRB, Non-Union employers, Protected activity, Section 7, Section 8(a)(1), Uncategorized, Unfair Labor Practices
The Board’s excruciatingly close scrutiny of employer policies continues as the agency looks for opportunities to expand its juridiction by rooting out all evil lurking in handbooks and other written employment policies.  The NLRB has taken the position that certain “at-will” language in handbooks, language that in various forms exists in virtually every private employer’s handbook in … Continue Reading
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