Obama Hosts Labor Leaders - Then Passes Four Pro Union Executive Orders

Monday, 06 April 2009 15:05

Labor Relations

• Prevent federal contractors from getting reimbursed for expenses for activities undertaken to influence workers deciding whether to unionize and engage in collective bargaining.
• Requires successor federal contractors and their subcontractors to offer jobs to current workers when contractors change.
• Reverse a Bush order requiring federal contractors to notify workers that they can limit their financial support of unions that are serving as their exclusive bargaining representatives.
• Authorize executive agencies of the federal government to require every contractor or subcontractor on a large-scale construction project to negotiate or become a party to a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with one or more labor organizations.

COUNSEL TO MANAGEMENT:

Federal contractors must be aware of these sweeping changes. However, Management in general should take note. Obama is sending a clear message. He summed it up best himself, "I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, it's part of the solution," he said. "You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement."

The goal of this article is to provide employers with current labor and employment law information. The contents should not be interpreted or construed as legal advice or opinion. For individual responses to questions or concerns regarding any given situation, the reader should consult with The Saqui Law Group at (831) 443-7100 in Salinas.