Labor Relations Update

Tag Archives: NLRB

Union’s Efforts to Scare Employees From Participating in Employer Investigations Rebuked by the Board

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Austin McLeod on Posted in 8(b)(2), Investigations, NLRA, NLRB, Section 8(b)(1)(A)
On June 5, 2020, the NLRB held, in Teamsters Local Union No. 735-S (Bemis Co., Inc.), 369 NLRB No. 97, that union officials’ retaliatory actions against members who participated in an investigation resulting in the discharge of the union president violated the NLRA’s prohibitions against union restraint or coercion (Section 8(b)(1)(A)) and causing employer discrimination … Continue Reading

NLRB Redefines “Solicitation,” Broadening Conduct that may be Considered Unprotected

By Mark Theodore and Eric Novak on Posted in NLRB
On May 29, 2020, the NLRB issued an important opinion overruling two decisions in order to define the term “solicitation” in a manner consistent with prior Board decisions and the dictionary definition of the term. Wynn Las Vegas, LLC, 369 NLRB No. 91 (2020). In defining “solicitation,” the Board held that “where an employee makes … Continue Reading

Update: Despite Order Striking Down Portions of NLRB Rulemaking on Representation Election Procedures, NLRB Implements Rules Unaffected by Order

By Steven Porzio, Joshua Fox, Heylee Bernstein and Austin McLeod on Posted in NLRB Election Rules, Representation Elections
On Sunday, we reported on an eleventh-hour district court order striking down large portions of the NLRB’s new representation election rules that were set to go into effect on May 31, 2020. The district court order held certain portions of the rule were unlawful because they failed to follow proper notice-and-comment rulemaking as required for … Continue Reading

Breaking: Federal Court Strikes Down New NLRB Rules on Representation Election Procedures; Implementation Delayed and Status of the Rules Uncertain

By Michael Lebowich, Joshua Fox and Heylee Bernstein on Posted in NLRB Election Rules, Representation Elections
After an initial COVID-19 related delay, the sweeping new NLRB representation election rules that reversed the Obama-era “quickie” election process were about to go into effect on May 31, 2020.  However, an eleventh-hour district court order struck down a significant portion of the rule as unlawfully implemented for failing to follow proper administrative procedure, casting … Continue Reading

NLRB: Policy Prohibiting Personal Cell Phones in Work Areas Due to Safety Concerns May Be Lawful under Boeing

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Elizabeth Dailey on Posted in Employer policies, Handbook, NLRA, NLRB, Protected activity, Section 7, Section 8(a)(1), Uncategorized
As we previously suggested, the NLRB’s adoption of the Boeing standard for determining the lawfulness of employer’s workplace rules, policies and handbook provisions has provided significant fodder for interesting cases. The Board has struggled for years with the concept that certain commonsense employer business policies can be unlawful. It is difficult to draw bright-line rules … Continue Reading

“Hard” Bargaining Proposals Placed Into Final Offer Evidence Bad Faith Bargaining, NLRB Concludes

By Mark Theodore and Heylee Bernstein on Posted in Section 8(a)(1), Section 8(a)(5)
On May 21, 2020, the NLRB issued a decision in Altura Communication Solutions, LLC. The case asked the Board to consider whether a series of broad proposals made by the employer during collective bargaining amounted to bad faith bargaining and 8(a)(1) and 8(a)(5) violations. The Board noted that while it is not its role to … Continue Reading

NLRB Regions Hold Information Sessions to Discuss Representation Case Changes

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Heylee Bernstein on Posted in NLRB Election Rules
In December 2019, the NLRB announced its Final Rule governing representation case procedures. The Final Rule applies to petitions filed on or after May 31, 2020. With the effective date fast approaching, NLRB Regions nationwide are holding public information sessions to explain these changes. Recently, on May 21, 2020, Region 25 in Indianapolis hosted its … Continue Reading

Update: NLRB Extends Suspension of Notice-Posting Requirements to Cases Involving Informal Settlement Agreements

By Peter D. Conrad, Joshua Fox and Alex Downie on Posted in COVID-19, NLRA, NLRB
As we discussed here, the National Labor Relations Board decided early this month that it would temporarily suspend the remedial notice-posting and emailing requirement at facilities shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic until after reopening and a return of a “substantial complement” of employees.  See Danbury Ambulance Service, Inc., 369 NLRB 68 (2020). The … Continue Reading

BREAKING: NLRB to Resume Unfair Labor Practice Trials June 1, 2020

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Alex Downie on Posted in COVID-19, NLRA, NLRB
As many states throughout the country have begun implementing phased reopening plans, so too has the NLRB begun to return to a semblance of normality. Representation elections resumed in early April, and the NLRB recently provided clarification as to how representation hearings should be conducted. In the last few weeks the agency has counted ballots … Continue Reading

NLRB Establishes Bright-Line Rule Voiding Election Ballots with Dual or Additional Markings

By Mark Theodore and Scott Tan on Posted in NLRA, NLRB, Representation Elections
One area of controversy over the years is the NLRB’s attempt to interpret markings on representation ballots that are not clearly “yes” or “no.”  This has given rise to a number of tests for divining voter intent.  Overruling decades of conflicting precedent involving the interpretation of a voter’s intent, the NLRB issued a key decision … Continue Reading

NLRB: Hearings in Representation Cases with Witnesses Must Be Conducted By Videoconference during COVID-19 Pandemic

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Thomas B. Fiascone on Posted in NLRA, NLRB, NLRB Election Rules, Representation Elections
As most of the country’s workforce continues to adjust to the new realities of social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and limited travel, the practice of law and the forums for adjudicating disputes have shifted to video and telephonic hearings to ensure that the wheels of justice continue to turn notwithstanding COVID-19.  The NLRB has been no … Continue Reading

NLRB Suspends Remedial Notice-Posting Requirements for Facilities Shutdown During COVID-19 Pandemic

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Scott Tan on Posted in NLRA, NLRB
The Board continues to issue decisions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, while acknowledging that business operations around the country are far from “business as usual.” The agency is up and running.  Representation elections vote counts are being conducted via video conference as are hearings.  The remedy stage of unfair labor practice proceedings also has caught up … Continue Reading

NLRB: Unions Also Obligated To Provide Timely Relevant and Necessary Information Requested by Employers

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Elizabeth Dailey on Posted in Duty to furnish information, Duty to provide information, NLRA, NLRB, Section 8(b)(3)
We have often reported about how an employer’s failure to adequately respond to an information request made by a union can lead to unfair labor practice charges and litigation.  Sometimes a union makes an information request for strategic reasons, not for any representational reason.  Sometimes, an employer’s response can lead to further complications. The same … Continue Reading

NLRB: Changes in Workplace Policies Not Applicable to Union Employees do not Constitute a Unilateral Action by the Employer

By Mark Theodore and Elizabeth Dailey on Posted in COVID-19, NLRB
As the NLRB continues to navigate the uncertainty in the work landscape during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it seems to have stayed largely on course, regularly issuing decisions touching on a number of important topics under the Act. One such important topic that the Board has devoted recent attention to has been the issue of … Continue Reading

NLRB Reaffirms Limitations on Employers’ Ability to Solicit Employee Assistance in Anti-Union Campaigning and Confidentiality Restrictions

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Elizabeth Dailey on Posted in NLRA, NLRB, Section 8(a)(1)
In maintaining business as usual as best it can amidst the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Board recently decided an issue concerning limitations on employer campaign tactics, and an employer’s limits in restricting discussions with employees related to terms and conditions of employment. In First American Enterprises d/b/a Heritage Lakeside, 369 NLRB No. 54 (2020), the … Continue Reading

Update: NLRB Delays Implementation of Final Election Rule Changes to July 31, 2020

By Mark Theodore and Joshua Fox on Posted in COVID-19, NLRA, NLRB
As we reported here, on April 1, 2020, the NLRB published its final rule making three amendments to its rules and regulations governing union elections (relating to the Board’s blocking charge policy; timing and notice requirements attendant to voluntary recognition; and 9(a) recognition in the construction industry).  The rule was expected to be effective as … Continue Reading

NLRB: Employee’s Profanity and Threatening Comments Insufficient to Forfeit Protections of the Act

By Mark Theodore and Scott Tan on Posted in NLRA, NLRB
In the past, we frequently have discussed protected activity and how an employee’s profane outburst or deliberate conduct may render otherwise protected activity, “unprotected.”  However, as this recently issued decision reinforces, the Board is usually quite tolerant of impulsive behavior and outbursts in response to legitimate grievances over the terms and conditions of employment. Plant … Continue Reading

BREAKING: NLRB Announces Representation Elections Will Resume April 6, 2020

By Mark Theodore and Scott Tan on Posted in NLRA, NLRB, Representation Elections
On March 19, 2020, the NLRB announced that it was suspending all representation elections through April 3, 2020.  The Board stated that the suspension was necessary to ensure the safety of its own employees, as well as those members of the public involved in the elections. Today, the Board announced that it will not extend … 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 Decides to Assert Jurisdiction Over Charter Schools On A Case By Case Basis

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Samantha Shear on Posted in NLRA, NLRB
The NLRB continues to operate during the novel coronavirus crisis. Regional offices are largely working remotely as is the rest of the country.  The Board itself continues to issue decisions, albeit at a slower pace than usual.  On February 4, 2019, the NLRB invited interested parties to file briefs addressing whether the agency should decline … Continue Reading

NLRB Suspends Representation Elections through April 3, 2020 due to COVID-19 Pandemic

By Michael Lebowich and Joshua Fox on Posted in Coronavirus, NLRA, NLRB, Representation Elections
The NLRB announced today in a press release that “[d]ue to the extraordinary circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic,” all representation elections, including mail ballot elections, will be suspended for the next two weeks, through and including April 3, 2020.  This means that any representation elections previously scheduled from now through April 3, 2020 will … Continue Reading

Employer’s Poll of Workforce Not Unlawful Mass Interrogation, NLRB Rules

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Thomas B. Fiascone on Posted in NLRA, NLRB, Protected activity, Section 7, Section 8(a)(1)
When it comes to an unfair practice allegation asserting an employer’s statement is unlawful, words matter.  And, so does context.  Under NLRB case law, the actual employer statements are evaluated as well as the overall context the words were uttered to determine whether there exists coercion.  Recently, the NLRB addressed an unusual case where an … Continue Reading

NLRB Issues its Final Rule for its New Joint Employer Standard

By Steven Porzio and Jacob L. Hirsch on Posted in Joint Employer, NLRB
This morning the National Labor Relations Board (the “Board”) unveiled the final rule setting forth the new legal test it will apply in analyzing whether affiliated businesses are “joint employers”. The final rule, which will be effective on April 27, 2020, can be found here. Background On September 13, 2018 the Board published its proposed … Continue Reading

Applying the Boeing Standard, NLRB Upholds Employer’s Policies Restricting Cell Phone Use, Non-Work Email Use and Disclosure of Confidential Information

By Mark Theodore, Joshua Fox and Rachel Therese Gulotta on Posted in Confidentiality, Handbook, NLRA, NLRB, Section 7
Applying the facially neutral work rule test laid out in Boeing (see here), the Board recently reversed an Administrative Law Judge decision, concluding that the employer maintained lawful workplace rules restricting employee use of (i) cell phones in commercial vehicles, (ii) the company email server for purposes not related to work, and (iii) the disclosure … Continue Reading
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