Posts tagged grievance

    NLRB Pushes Schools to Release Student Information to Unions: Navigating Privacy Considerations in Light of Recent Guidance

    August 14, 2024 // Private colleges and universities employing student workers face the unique challenge of balancing privacy obligations and a growing push from federal labor authorities to release student information to unions. Recent guidance from the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) General Counsel has brought these issues to the forefront, particularly as the federal agency offers schools its view about how to satisfy your duties under both the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

    Unions must represent all covered workers, even nonmembers, Michigan Supreme Court rules

    May 13, 2024 // Workers who disagree with their union’s political speech cannot be forced to subsidize that speech through dues or fees. Despite this, unions aggressively attempt to organize public sector workers, knowing that by doing so, they are choosing to represent members and nonmembers equally. By upholding a union’s duty of fair representation, the Michigan Supreme Court has ensured that these protections continue, and cut short union efforts to strongarm employees into membership.

    Snow day puts Lamont, CT employee unions at odds over telework

    February 16, 2024 // Hybrid employees who were scheduled to work remotely during Tuesday’s storm were required to do so, the coalition says. But SEBAC also said hybrid employees who were scheduled to work on-site Tuesday should not have been compelled to work remotely or otherwise expend accrued time off. Those employees, the coalition says, must be treated like all staff who normally work on-site all the time. Those on-site workers effectively received Tuesday as a paid day off.

    Brunswick Staples workers vote against unionizing

    January 9, 2024 // Had a majority voted to unionize, the store would have been the first Staples to unionize in the U.S. The company, founded in 1986, has 997 retail stores in the U.S., including 10 in Maine, and more than 34,000 workers, according to its website.

    BACKGROUNDER: Worker’s Choice Act. Sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO)

    December 14, 2023 // President of Institute for the American Worker F. Vincent Vernuccio said, “Rep. Eric Burlison’s Worker’s Choice bill empowers both workers and unions. It allows workers to say “no thanks” to unwanted representation and unions to say “goodbye” to workers who are not interested in accepting or paying for their services. We applaud this commonsense legislation made possible by the Congressman’s leadership.

    Gustafson v. AFSCME, Council 13 CASE SUMMARY

    December 2, 2023 // Penny Gustafson v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 13; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, District Council 83; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 2047; and Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

    Hartford teacher wins labor complaint against union

    September 6, 2023 // Grande was disciplined by the Board of Education after two colleagues complained about his reaction to mandatory training on privilege. He was issued a letter of reprimand, saying he had made inappropriate and unprofessional comments during the training. Grande has pushed back against that reprimand saying he was asked his opinion on the training and gave an honest answer. HFT did file for arbitration on Grande’s behalf after they were made aware of their duty to fair representation, but it was too late, with more than six months elapsing between the second grievance denial and filing for arbitration, so their request was denied.

    Wabtec sues union, seeks injunction aimed at conduct of striking workers on picket line

    August 3, 2023 // Since the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America went on strike on June 22, according to Wabtec's motion, the striking workers have, among other things, used racist and homophobic slurs against non-striking employees entering and leaving the plant, damaged employees' personal vehicles, blocked the plant's gates and subjected the plant to two phoned-in bomb threats. Wabtec sued the UE in asking for the injunction. "Wabtec has made consistent efforts to address the Union's unlawful and dangerous picket activity with the Union and its counsel, but the activity has persisted and most recently escalated, amounting to an unlawful seizure of the Wabtec facility," according to Wabtec's motion.