Executive Director of LaborLab, Bob Funk, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and talked about LaborLab’s midyear report that exposed companies who engage in anti-union persuasion. Funk also discussed the regulations on hiring persuaders or firms who engage in anti-union tactics.
The midyear LaborLab report exposed companies that engage in anti-union tactics and was created to help track the efforts of companies that attempt to dissuade employees from forming a union. LaborLab uses this report to get the word out to media, unions and non-union workers throughout the U.S. While some companies can be added to the report through call-ins, LaborLab ensures the accuracy of their data by using Department of Labor filings to find any anti-union persuaders being hired. The report identified 84 companies that engage in anti-union persuasion. However since the report was released in June, LaborLab has added to the list, with the number topping over 100 companies.
Under federal law, companies have to follow strict guidelines on reporting anti-union persuasion efforts. However, it has not always been easy for the DOL to enforce, Funk said. In the past, persuaders have waited until after they were hired to report their actions so they could deceive the workers involved. While the guidelines are strict, they lack any punishment to deter the actions. This is why Funk wanted to create the tracking report to help keep companies compliant.
While creating the report, Funk found concentrations of anti-union actions throughout the country, with a few metropolitan areas leading the way. He also explained the primary sectors where these anti-union persuaders are generally found. Of the top three companies who spent the most money on anti-union efforts last year, two were hospitals, while Amazon was the third. It is important that companies that participate in anti-union efforts be held accountable, and face strict punishments when they have been found guilty of these actions, Funk added.
For LaborLab’s report or to help support LaborLab, please visit LaborLab.us. Listen to the entire episode to learn more.