Young Workers Summit

Next week the AFL-CIO will host a Young Workers Summit in Minneapolis. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will participate. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has made no secret of his priority of recruiting and involving younger workers.

Persuader regulations opposed

The American Bar Association and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States have both filed comments with the Labor Department on the proposed revisions of the “persuader” regulations requiring extensive reporting of client confidential information when an attorney or firm provides advice to employers on labor relations matters. These persuader rules are a far more important issue than the required notice posting that has gotten so much coverage. These rules, if adopted, will make it impossible for a law firm to preserve client confidential information and be in compliance with the reporting and disclosure requirements.

Labor Consultant Rules

The Department of Labor has just published its long anticipated new rule governing disclosure of "persuader activity." The rule is designed to require law firms and other consultants to detail the fact of any agreement to undertake certain activities to persuade employees concerning their collective bargaining or organizing rights. As expected the terms are broadly construed to require disclosure.
There will doubtless be significant challenges to enforcement. The new rules require broad disclosure of financial matters for law firms, including arguable economic activity not logically related to persuading employees concerning union representation.

DoL has helpful law summary

The Department of Labor has a a new web site and one helpful resource is an overview of the laws and Executive orders affecting employers which it administers.