Labor law is changing at breakneck speed, from hair-trigger bargaining orders after Cemex to restrictions on employer speech (can you hold employee meetings or even talk to reporters about unions?). And there is much more to come.

“How should we change our strategy?” This is the question our clients ask most. With NLRB activism, historic union organizing efforts, and daily court rulings, it’s easy to feel worn down. We’ve revamped some core strategies and thoroughly revised our materials - you should, too!

How do you keep one step ahead? Here are a few suggestions:

• Scan our newsletter for stories related to your industry or unions of interest (you can also easily focus on your industry or union in one click on the news.lrionline.com site). 

• Join our monthly client webinar, where you’ll learn about all the key developments, get our expert insight and analysis, and hear from your peers to see how others may be pivoting (if you don’t currently receive invitations to our monthly webinar, let us know and we’ll get you on the list).

• Also, consider one of the following as a proactive next step, especially if you are sensing heightened risk:

  • Run a Tabletop exercise to stress-test your existing strategies against current realities. Where are the weak links and opportunities? 

  • Consider an Opportunity Assessment to understand how your strategy and toolbox compare to the best practices from across the country.

  • Supervisors are your first line of defense. How well trained are they? Do they know the magic words if approached by a demand for union recognition? Do they know how to talk about a direct relationship without running afoul of TriCast? Can they communicate to today’s workers using the power of the right questions?

The graphics below from our recent Mid-Year Report reinforce what you’ve been feeling: unions are busy. This report may prove useful if you want data to share with your team.