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.

Healthcare bargaining unit rules

A former Chairman of the NLRB, Peter Schaumber (R), blogs about the procedural and substantive issues with the current Board reconsidering the rules governing appropriate bargaining units in nursing homes. Under consideration is a Board rule that would permit unions to organize sub-groups of nursing home employees, rather than have to attain majority status in larger units of most non-supervisory employees of a facility.  He is correct that proposed changes would seem to be contrary to the Congressional admonition to avoid a proliferation of such units, and equally correct that a change would favor union organizing. He's a tad over the top, however, in his criticism about changing settled precedent. The Republican dominated Board in 2007 alone overturned many longstanding rulings. The pending case on the issue is Specialty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center of Mobile. The amicus briefs of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce are here.

Survey says: EFCA is not popular

The U. S. Chamber of Commerce has released a new survey which purports to reflect the public's views on card check and unions. I'm sure the smart people on both sides will find things to disagree about in the survey's findings. It has been picked up to show overwhelming public opposition. The SEIU's blog attacks both the poll and the pollster. To me there are two very interesting points. First, overall support for organized labor has dropped dramatically since 2008. Second, a whopping 70% of those surveyed had heard *nothing* about EFCA.

Chamber cites bias in labor literature

The U. S. Chamber of Commerce has released a White Paper report which skewers the research methods and conclusions of Kate Bronfenbrenner and others claiming employer misconduct in representation proceedings suppresses unionization. The study criticizes Bronfenbrenner's reliance upon chief union organizers for assessing the campaign environment while ignoring employer advocates. The study does a particularly good job of using current NLRB data to correct the misstatements and conclusions of the pro-labor writings of Bronfenbrenner and others.

Green, Inc., green Apple

The United States Chamber of Commerce has taken quite a hit for its less than green stance on global warming. Today Apple Computer withdrew from the USCC over its position on global warming. This Blogger has long been an Apple fan because it produces insanely great products. We rationally support the USCC on the Employee Free Choice Act [EFCA], but I have children and hope to have grandchildren and failure to acknowledge climate change and failure to support solutions is no longer a rational position, irrespective of assigned cause.