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From effectively shuttering the FMCS to ending collective bargaining for certain agencies to the rehiring and refiring of NLRB Gwynne Wilcox, Alex MacDonald helps explain what's going on.In the last week alone, the Trump administration has effectively shuttered the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, ended collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, two separate lawsuits filed against government unions, and union lawsuits filed against the Trump administration, as well as the re-hiring and re-firing of NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox.To say that it's a lot to take in would be an understatement.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, returning guest Alex MacDonald from Littler's Workplace Policy Institute joins host Peter List to help break all of it down.Follow Alex MacDonald on LinkedIn here.Follow Alex MacDonald's writings at the Federalist Society here.Other episodes with Alex MacDonald:Labor Relations Radio, E161—WPI's Alex MacDonald On The Legal Theory Behind The Firing Of NLRB Member WilcoxLabor Relations Radio, E149: An Accidental Outcome? Alex MacDonald returns to discuss how the NLRA's success has resulted in fewer unions & what might happen under a new administration in DC.Labor Relations Radio E144—Alex MacDonald Explains How Unions' Right to"Exclusive Representation" May Be UnconstitutionalLabor Relations Radio E138 — Attorney Alex MacDonald On The Constitutionality Of 'Exclusive Representation'__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Kim Kavin rejoins the podcast to discuss all the latest in the unions' and Democrats' efforts to destroy independent contracting for millions of Americans.Kim Kavin, a freelance writer and editor, co-founder of Fight for Freelancers USA, and publisher of FreelanceBusting.com, returns to the podcast to discuss the latest happenings in the War on the Gig Economy.In this episode Kim discusses what is transpiring at the federal and state levels with respect to the efforts to fight for Americans' right to choose how to earn a living, as well as the efforts to destroy that right.Read more about the fight against freelance busting at FreelanceBusting.com__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

WPI's Alex MacDonald returns to the podcast to discuss a "bipartisan" bill to allow the federal government to mandate first-contracts on private-sector employers.______________________________If the workers surrender control over working relations to legislative and administrative agents, they put their industrial liberty at the disposal of state agents. — Samuel Gompers, 1915_____________________________On Tuesday, Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO), as well as Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Faster Labor Contracts Act—a bill that is endorsed by the Teamsters, which would put federally-mandated arbitrators in the position of dictating first-time labor contracts onto employers, employees, and unions.The Faster Labor Contracts Act would:Amend the National Labor Relations Act to require that after workers have voted to form a union, employers must begin negotiating with the new union within 10 days.Provide that if no agreement is reached within 90 days, the dispute will be referred to mediation.Stipulate that if mediation fails within 30 days, or additional periods agreed upon by the parties, the dispute will be referred to binding arbitration to secure an initial contract (view more details of this provision in highlights here).Commission a Government Accountability Office report on average workplace time-to-contract one year after enactment.Read the full highlighted bill here.“The Faster Labor Contracts Act is a massive expansion of the federal government's authority over the private sector,” noted Kristen Swearingen, spoksperson for the Coalition for Democratic Workplace. “It would allow government bureaucrats to dictate the employment terms of workers via mandatory, binding arbitration, meaning they can set the workers' wages, benefits, workplace safety standards, pensions, and so on with no oversight by the workers, employers, unions, or even the judicial branch.”In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, returning guest Alex MacDonald, Co-Chair of Littler's Workplace Policy Institute, joins host Peter List to discuss the ramifications of this bill if it becomes law.Follow Alex MacDonald on LinkedIn here.Follow Alex MacDonald's writings at the Federalist Society here.Prior Labor Relations Radio episodes with Alex MacDonald:Labor Relations Radio, E149: An Accidental Outcome? Alex MacDonald returns to discuss how the NLRA's success has__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

James F. O'Brien is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley and has written about how the coming AI job apocalypse necessitates the need to look at alternative means of revenue, including taxing AI, to avoid mass societal disruption.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Professor O'Brien joins host Peter List to discuss how fast AI is moving into our society, the “upstream” and “downstream” effect and what they mean to all of us.Related:The impending AI-driven jobless economy: Who will pay taxes?The End of Required Work: Universal Basic Income and AI-Driven ProsperityMusk predicts future without jobs due to AI and proposes high universal income__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

A lot is going on in Washington, DC these days. In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Kristen Swearingen Vice President, Legislative & Political Affairs at the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. and spokesperson for the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace joins host Peter List to discuss some of the issues, including the re-introduction of the PRO Act, Sen. Josh Hawley's “PRO Act-Lite” framework, as well as President Trump's nominee to head the Department of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

If the workers surrender control over working relations to legislative and administrative agents, they put their industrial liberty at the disposal of state agents. — Samuel Gompers, 1915_______________Republican politicians' efforts to 'realign' with unions may, in fact, actually hurt American workers and free choice.Mark Mix of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation rejoins the podcast to discuss Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Trump's nominee to become the Secretary of Labor, Senator Josh Hawley's (R-MO) efforts to “bend the knee” to unions, as well as a host of other labor-related issues.Related:Labor Relations Radio, Ep. 28—Guest Mark Mix of the National Right to Work Foundation__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Nearly two years after his first episode on Labor Relations Radio, economist Jon Morrow returns to discuss a wide array of topics: The topics range from the return of Donald Trump to the Presidency, the national debt, artificial intelligence, new nuclear power and desalinization plants, to the impacts of TikTok, Only Fans, and AI on our culture.______________________Labor Relation Radio, E74—Economist Jon Morrow on Declining Birth Rates, the Advent of AI, the State of the Economy and Culture__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

President Trump's terminating NLRB General Counsel Abruzzo was expected; terminating NLRB Member Wilcox was not. WPI's Alex MacDonald explains the legal theories that may be behind the move.On Monday, President Trump terminated the employment of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, which was widely expected.However, what was not expected was that Trump also fired NLRB Member Gwynne Wilcox.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, returning guest Alex MacDonald, Co-Chair of Littler's Workplace Policy Institute, joins host Peter List to discuss the legal theory that may be behind the move.Follow Alex MacDonald on LinkedIn here.Follow Alex MacDonald's writings at the Federalist Society here.Prior Labor Relations Radio episodes with Alex MacDonald:Labor Relations Radio, E149: An Accidental Outcome? Alex MacDonald returns to discuss how the NLRA's success has resulted in fewer unions & what might happen under a new administration in DC.Labor Relations Radio E144—Alex MacDonald Explains How Unions' Right to"Exclusive Representation" May Be UnconstitutionalLabor Relations Radio E138 — Attorney Alex MacDonald On The Constitutionality Of 'Exclusive Representation'__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

National Retail Federation's Ed Egee provides an update on some of the latest happenings in Washington, DC since Pres. Trump re-entered the Oval Office.Mr. Edwin Egee, vice president, government relations and workforce development at the National Retail Federation. He is responsible for NRF's policy agenda on labor, employment, immigration and health care. He manages NRF's Employment Law and Benefits Committee.Though early in the new Trump Administration, Mr. Egee joins host Peter List to discuss the latest happenings in Washington—from President Trump's recent moves at the National Labor Relations Board, where specific cases stand, as well as immigration, and Senator Josh Hawley's pro-union (anti-worker) “framework” for labor law changes.Related:Labor Relations Radio, Ep. 30—Guest: The National Retail Federation's Ed Egee on Underground Efforts To Install Electronic Voting and Card Check__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

California Policy Center's Edward Ring and Retired Battalion Chief Frank Ricci discuss some of the issues that have contributed to the devastation of the California wildfires.Recorded separately for YGTBFKMNews.com's Daily News, Edward Ring, the director of water and energy policy for the California Policy Center, and Frank Ricci, a retired firefighter, battalion chief, and union president, joined host Peter List to discuss the issues involved with the fires wreaking havoc and destruction across southern California.Related:Ricci: Like Administrative Arson, California's Bad Ideas Spread Like Wildfires__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Connecting the dots from Carter's deregulation crusade nearly 45 years ago to the election of Donald Trump.In a wide-ranging interview with Tucker Carlson, Teamsters' President Sean O'Brien explained how the Democrats broke the Teamsters' pension funds and expected to be thanked for fixing them 40 years later.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, host Peter List revisits the Carter legacy, and Democrats' crusade to deregulate certain industries did more to decimate unions than Ronald Reagan ever did.Related:Worth a Watch: The Teamsters' Sean O'Brien Interview With Tucker CarlsonThe Decline of Unions, Part One: President Jimmy Carter, Union-Buster__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

A discussion between two non-attorneys about the latest happenings at the National Labor Relations BoardThere have been a lot of developments at the National Labor Relations Board since the November 5th election, and with President Trump returning to the White House in November, many expect the labor law pendulum to swing back to the right after January.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Labor Relations Institute's Michael VanDervort joins host Peter List to get caught up on some of the changes over the last several weeks and how the NLRB may change in the coming months and years under Trump 2.0.Related:Michael VanDervort's DriveThru HR podcastLabor Relations Institute's Left of Boom Show__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

A wide-ranging discussion on income inequality, the growth of artificial intelligence and its impact on society.Erik Sherman is a freelance writer who reports on business, economics, finance, investing, markets, tech, law, commercial real estate, and income and wealth inequality. His credits include Fortune, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times Magazine, NBC News, CBS Moneywatch, Technology Review, The Fiscal Times, and Inc. He is also the author or co-author of 10 nonfiction books.In this episode, Erik joins host Peter List in the continuation of a conversation that began on X (formerly Twitter) about AI and economics.To follow Erik Sherman:Erik Sherman at ForbesErik Sherman at SubstackErik Sherman on X (formerly Twitter)__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Picking a PRO-Act supporting, amnesty and Big Government-loving, one-term Congresswoman as the next labor secretary has many people scratching their heads.On Friday evening, much to the surprise of the business community and millions of independent contractors, President-elect Donald Trump nominated a one-term Congresswoman, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore), to become Trump's Secretary of Labor.Despite her seeming lack of qualifications, Chavez-DeRemer's pick is surprising to many people due to her…Backing of the PRO ActSupport for nationalizing public-sector labor lawReported backing of amnesty for undocumented migrantsAs the nomination was fully supported by the Teamsters' union president Sean O'Brien, the Wall Street Journal editorial board even penned a piece entitled: Trump's Labor Choice: Unions Over Workers.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Jennifer Van Laar, the managing editor of RedState.com joins host Peter List to discuss Trump's puzzling pick.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Teamsters' President Sean O'Brien—and the AFT's Randi Weingarten—want a pro-union former Congresswoman to head Donald Trump's Department of Labor.Teamsters President Sean O'Brien is recommending Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, to lead the Department of Labor under the incoming Trump administration.She is an odd choice for Trump to consider, given her backing of the economy-destroying PRO Act, and she has already garnered much criticism from many people and groups, including independent contractor advocates.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Michael Saltsman, a partner with Berman & Co. joins host Peter List to discuss what is driving the push behind Chavez-DeRemer, as well as why she would be a bad choice for the incoming Trump administration.Related: Teamsters president pushing Chavez-DeRemer for Labor secretaryLori Chavez-DeRemer touted for US Labor SecretaryEmployers' group tees off on Chavez-DeRemer amid Labor secretary chatterDon't Let the Teamsters Pick the Labor SecretaryIndependent Contractors Sound the Alarm: PRO-Act Sponsor Lori-Chavez-DeRemer Is Not Fit to Be Labor SecyMake America Work Again__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

The NLRB, in overturning a 78-year-old precedent, pushes the pendulum even further to the left.Though not unexpected, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued its long-awaited decision, which bans employers from conducting so-called “captive-audience” (aka mandatory) meetings with their employees during union organizing campaigns.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, labor attorney Mike Carrouth, from the law firm Fisher Phillips, shares the basics in what employers are allowed and not allowed to do under this new ruling.Note: Nothing in this episode of Labor Relations Radio should be construed as legal advice. If you, as an employer, have union-related questions or issues, please seek advice from a labor attorney.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Employers and their agents beware: You will now be held accountable if you do not correctly explain the NLRA's Section 9(a) when speaking with employees.Last week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision in Siren Retail Corp d/b/a Starbucks, overruling Tri-Cast, Inc., 274 NLRB 377 (1985) and clarifying the test that the Board will use to evaluate whether employer predictions about the impact of unionization on the relationship between individual employees and their employer are unlawful threats. Under the new ruling, if an employer (or its agents) does not carefully parse out their statements to employees regarding Section 9(a), moving forward, the NLRB will now find that the employer has issued a threat.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Phil Wilson, President of LRI Consulting Services, Inc. (LRICS) and Approachable Leadership, returns to the podcast to discuss the ramifications of the NLRB's new decision, as well as what is ahead with a new NLRB under Trump 2.0.Prior episodes with Phil Wilson:Labor Relations Radio E129—LRI's Phil Wilson on an NLRB ALJ's Outrageous Ruling Against Free SpeechLabor Relations Radio, E97—LRI's Phil Wilson & Michael VanDervort on the new Left of Boom podcastLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 64—LRI's Phil Wilson on Recent NLRB Developments and Union Organizing TrendsLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 40—LRI's Phil Wilson on the State of the Post-Pandemic Workplace__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Picking a PRO-Act supporting, amnesty and Big Government-loving, one-term Congresswoman as the next labor secretary has many people scratching their heads.On Friday evening, much to the surprise of the business community and millions of independent contractors, President-elect Donald Trump nominated a one-term Congresswoman, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore), to become Trump's Secretary of Labor.Despite her seeming lack of qualifications, Chavez-DeRemer's pick is surprising to many people due to her…Backing of the PRO ActSupport for nationalizing public-sector labor lawReported backing of amnesty for undocumented migrantsAs the nomination was fully supported by the Teamsters' union president Sean O'Brien, the Wall Street Journal editorial board even penned a piece entitled: Trump's Labor Choice: Unions Over Workers.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Jennifer Van Laar, the managing editor of RedState.com joins host Peter List to discuss Trump's puzzling pick.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

With the election of Donald Trump to become the 47th President of the United States, both employers and unions should expect yet another pendulum swing in labor law.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, returning guest Jon Hyman, a shareholder with Wickens Herzer Panza shares some insights as to what we might see coming in 2025.Related Links:Jon Hyman's Ohio Employer Law BlogJon Hyman on LinkedIn.comThe Norah and Dad ShowLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 18: Guest—The 'Master of Workplace Schadenfreude,' Attorney Jon Hyman on why 'anti-union doesn't mean anti-worker'Labor Relations Radio, Ep. 21—Guest: Attorney Jon Hyman On What HR Can Take Away From The NLRB's Starbucks ComplaintLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 36: Guest Jon Hyman on Weingarten Rights, What They Are And How They're Likely Coming Back To Non-Union WorkplacesLabor Relations Radio, E86—Guest Jon Hyman on the Existential Impact of Artificial Intelligence__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Plus, Elon Musk's victory at the Fifth CircuitWith the November 5th elections right around the corner, employers and unions alike are girding themselves for what could be a very consequential outcome.In this, the 150th episode of Labor Relations Radio, labor attorney and returning guest Cary Burke joins host Peter List to discuss Elon Musk's recent victory at the Fifth Circuit over an old tweet, as well as potential labor relations outcomes if Kamala Harris or Donald Trump win the presidency.Other Labor Relations Episodes with Cary Burke:Labor Relations Radio, E95—Seyfarth Shaw's Cary Burke on the 'retroactivity' of Cemex Bargaining Orders and moreLabor Relations Radio, E130—Attorney Cary Burke on a Potential Cemex Bargaining Order At Mercedes & 'Spying' on LinkedIn__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

“It is declared to be the policy of the United States to eliminate the causes of certain substantial obstructions to the free flow of commerce and to mitigate and eliminate these obstructions when they have occurred by encouraging the practice and procedure of collective bargaining and by protecting the exercise by workers of full freedom of association, self- organization, and designation of representatives of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection.” — National Labor Relations ActLabor attorney Alex MacDonald from Littler's Workplace Policy Institute returns to the podcast to discuss his article The Accidental Success of the NLRA: How a Law about Unions Achieved Its Goals by Giving Us Fewer Unions.Read more of Alex's writings at the Federalist Society here.Labor Relations Radio E144—Alex MacDonald Explains How Unions' Right to"Exclusive Representation" May Be UnconstitutionalLabor Relations Radio E138 — Attorney Alex MacDonald On The Constitutionality Of 'Exclusive Representation'LISTEN TO AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YGTBFKM PODCAST__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Millions of Americans' careers are on the line in this election. Yet, no one is talking about the War on Independent ContractorsReturning guest Kim Kavin, a freelance writer, editor and co-founder of Fight for Freelancers has a new Substack: FreelanceBusting.com.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Kim Kavin joins host Peter List to discuss where the battle against the freelance busters stands during this election cycle.Be sure to subscribe to Kim's Substack here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

O'Brien has failed to lead his members, says Brock, a former Teamster-turned-consultant.Is Sean O'Brien, the President of the International Brotherhood Teamsters, a “scab” for not endorsing Kamala Harris?Joe Brock is president of Reliant Labor Consultants and a former local president of a large Teamsters local.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Joe returns to the podcast to explain why he believes Sean O'Brien has betrayed union principles by allowing the Teamsters' non-endorsement. Related:Labor Relations Radio, E92—Former Teamster leader-turned-consultant Joe Brock on today's workplace issuesThis Breakdown Of Teamsters Locals Endorsing Harris Shows A Majority Of Members Supporting TrumpIf Unions Don't Want Members' Opinions, They Shouldn't Ask (Most Don't).LISTEN TO AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YGTBFKM PODCAST__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Last Friday, the Biden-Harris administration—“the most pro-union administration in American history”—issued an Executive Order that overwhelmingly gives unions and unionized employers advantages in obtaining federal work.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, returning guest Ben Brubeck, vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs for the Associated Builders & Contractors explains how this “gift to unions is discouraging for the overwhelming majority of the U.S. construction industry workforce—nearly 90%—that works for nonunion employers.”Related:ABC: Latest Biden-Harris Executive Order Panders to Unions, Harming 90% of Construction WorkforceLabor Relations Radio, E1–Associated Builders & Contractors' Ben Brubeck Discusses President Biden's Recent Executive Order on PLAs and moreLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 33—ABC's Ben Brubeck on the PRO Act Senate Vote and MoreLabor Relations Radio, E106—ABC's Ben Brubeck on Biden's PLA Mandate, Joint Employer and Apprenticeship RulesGo here for all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

A new study looks at the number of unionized employees, as opposed to employees who actually voted to unionize.Did you know that more than 95 percent of unionized private-sector employees have never voted to be unionized?As Americans, every two, four, or six years, we head to polls to cast our ballots for who we want to represent us. For unionized workers in the private sector, the vast majority never voted to unionize.According to a new study [in PDF] by the Institute for the American Worker (I4AW), 95 percent of private sector union workers under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) are represented by a union they have never voted for.Analyzing four decades of data on union organizing elections shows that workplace democracy has worsened since the last such analysis, in 2016. In the past eight years, the percentage of private-sector union members who voted for their union has declined by more than a full percentage point—from 6% to 4.9%.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, I4AW's President, F. Vincent Vernuccio returns to the podcast to explain I4AW's new report.Related:Labor Relations Radio, Ep. 43—The Institute for the American Worker's F. Vincent Vernuccio on Independent Contractors, Joint Employers & MoreLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 2—Guest: F. Vincent Vernuccio of the Institute for American WorkersGo here for all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

A case with huge ramifications is making its way through the legal system.Alex MacDonald, from Workplace Policy Institute, returns to Labor Relations Radio to discuss the filing of an amicus brief (for a writ of certiorari) with the U.S. Supreme Court for the Court to clarify a prior decision from 1984 that, if successful, could weaken a new form of "exclusive representation" for unions.Related:An Amicus Brief Was Just Filed With The Supreme Court Asking The Court To Hear The Issue Of Exclusive Representation 'Schemes'Labor Relations Radio E138 — Attorney Alex MacDonald On The Constitutionality Of 'Exclusive Representation'Political Unions, Free Speech, and the Death of Voluntarism: Why Exclusive Representation Violates the First Amendment [in PDF]Go here for all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

The Goldwater Institute's Vice President for Litigation explains the principles behind how Arizona just ended union "release time."Whether or not taxpayers realize it, government unions use taxpayer funds to fund union business. This practice, known as “release time” or “official time,” drives up the cost of government and occurs at the local, state, and federal levels.In Arizona, however, the state's Supreme Court recently struck down unions' use of taxpayer money to fund union business.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Jon Riches, the Vice President for Litigation for the Goldwater Institute, joins host Peter List to discuss the Arizona case and how it may apply to other states.Related:AZ Supreme Court Strikes Down Union ‘Release Time' on Taxpayers' DimeLabor Relations Radio, E104—Your Taxes Are Being Used To Fund Union Business: The Freedom Foundation's Maxford Nelsen explainsGo here for all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

AI is not all the way through the industry yet, but it's coming faster than many realize.As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent across various industries, one industry that is not often included in the AI discussion in the construction industry.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Patrick Scarpati, Director of Construction Technology and Innovation for the Associated Builders and Contractors, joins host Peter List to discuss ABC's new AI Resource Guide, the current uses of AI, as well as where AI may be headed.As an added bonus: The outro for this episode was written and performed by AI for ABC. (

Only months after the State of California required fast-food operators to raise the minimum wage from $16 to $20 per hour, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) wants the minimum wage raised again.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Tom Manzo, President of the California Business & Industrial Alliance joins host Peter List to discuss how unions are negatively impacting the state and driving businesses out.California fast-food workers want another minimum wage increaseCalifornia labor takes a rare “L” in 2024Go here for all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Trader Joe's employees had barely three weeks to turn around an ambush election that had been plotted for months. Here's how they did it.Within three weeks earlier this Spring, employees of a Trader Joe's store in Chicago turned around an ambush election by Trader Joe's United. They did so without help from their employer, and to the shock and dismay of the union's leaders.Long-time Trader Joe's employees, Nikki and Jose, explain what happened before and during the short window before their NLRB election.Related:Labor Relations Radio, E102—Unionized Trader Joe's Employees Explain the Efforts to Decertify Trader Joe's UnitedLabor Relations Radio, E83—Trader Joe's Employees Speak Out About UnionizationLabor Relations Radio, E88—A Trader Joe's employee reveals union tactics that led to a union's loss.Trader Joe's union is not what we bargained forGo here for all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

It's hard to keep up, but Nick Kalm and Peter List attempt to make sense of it all.Returning guest Nick Kalm, CEO of Reputation Partners, rejoins the podcast to discuss the month's political events and try to figure out which team has the advantage going into November.Prior Labor Relations Radio Episodes with Nick Kalm:Labor Relations Radio, Ep. 9—Reputation Partners' CEO Nick Kalm On Attacks On Company BrandsLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 44—Guest Nick Kalm On Why The Mid-Term's 'Red Wave' Was Barely A RippleLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 45—Guests Nick Kalm and Haley Hartmann on Gen Z in the WorkplaceLabor Relations Radio, E80—Reputation Partners' Nick Kalm on Companies Destroying Their Brands: 'Stay In Your Lane.'Labor Relations Radio, E99—Do unions have an Anti-Israel problem? A conversation with Nick KalmLabor Relations Radio E119—A conversation with Nick Kalm on Chicago Politics, Immigration and the 2024 ElectionFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

A deep-dive conversation into the question of whether unions' model of 'exclusive representation' is constitutional.As unions have become more reliant on government largesse over the last few decades, putting their future fortunes into the hands of the government, the question of whether the Constitution's First Amendment and its Freedom of Association apply to the concept of Exclusive Representation is called into question.In this episode, labor attorney Alex MacDonald, from Littler's Workplace Policy Institute shares some of the details of his paper: Political Unions, Free Speech, and the Death of Voluntarism: Why Exclusive Representation Violates the First Amendment1 [in PDF]Shorter: Union membership is now political. So can the government still require people to associate with a union?For those interested in deeper-dive research on legal topics, the longer version (here) is strongly recommended.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Since October 7th, there has been a significant rise in antisemitism on university campuses. Glenn Taubman explains how the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is helping fight it.Since October 7th, there has been a tremendous and overt rise of anti-semitism on college campuses across the U.S.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Glenn Taubman from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation joins host Peter List to share what the Foundation is doing to assist and protect grad students, as well as others, against the onslaught of antisemitism in their unions.Related:To contact the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, go here.U.S. House Committee Spotlights Need for Employee Protections Against Forced Funding of Extremist UnionsLabor Relations Radio, E132—Constitutional Attorney Jeffrey Schwab On A New Janus-Related Case With Potentially Sweeping RamificationsFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

California is known for exporting its political ideas to the rest of the country. What can people expect if either Kamala Harris or Gavin Newsom occupies the Oval Office?Trigger Warning: This episode discusses political issues currently going on in the U.S. and the State of California If political topics trigger you, please do not listen to this episode.______________With political issues occupying the national conversation since President Joe Biden's debate debacle, Will Swaim, president of the California Policy Center and co-host of National Review's Radio Free California podcast, joins host Peter List to discuss current affairs and the potential replacement of Joe Biden by either current-Vice President Kamala Harris, or California Governor Gavin Newsom, and potential other contenders.Follow Will Swaim on X (formerly Twitter) here.Related:Labor Relations Radio, E94—CPC's Will Swaim on California's Fast Food Council, Gov. Newsom's Presidential ambitions and much moreFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

With last week's decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 40-year precedent called the Chevron Doctrine (or Deference).This decision may have significant impact concerning how the National Labor Relations Board (and other federal agencies) conduct themselves moving forward.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, labor attorney Jim Paretti, Jr., a shareholder with the law firm Littler Mendelson, returns to the podcast to discuss what the reversal of the Chevron Doctrine means, as well as provides an update to the “Joint Employer Rule” that the NLRB issued last year.Contact Jim Paretti, Jr. here.Related:Labor Relations Radio, E118: Michael Lotito Explains How A Supreme Court Case May Have A Huge Impact On Government AgenciesLabor Relations Radio, E79—Labor Attorney Jim Paretti discusses the NLRB's Atlanta Opera decision & its impact on Independent ContractorsFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Although they have been around for a long time, very few employees who are required to pay union fees as a condition of employment know of 'deauthorization' elections that are available to them.Megann McManus (bio here) is a full-service traditional labor attorney at the law firm Husch Blackwell.Before becoming a lawyer, Megann majored in theatre and then worked for Actors' Equity Association as a director in the human resources department. There, she gained a unique and valuable perspective as a manager for a labor union, and she quickly realized that the collective bargaining and contract management process happening behind the scenes was even more interesting than the drama on the stage.Now, as an attorney working with employers, Ms. McManus has extensive experience in collective bargaining, grievance management, labor arbitration, and union-related litigation, including matters before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), as well as public sector litigation.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Ms. McManus joins host Peter List to discuss the little-known subject of Deauthorization Elections, wherein private-sector workers in states without right-to-work laws can vote to ‘deauthorize' required dues payments under a union security clause.Follow Megann McManus on LinkedIn here.Related: Labor Relations Radio, Ep 67—National Right To Work Foundation's Glenn Taubman On Employee Rights and Options__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

From humble beginnings in the 1980s to a globally-known company that handles all manner of crises—from labor disputes to helping in natural disasters—AFIMAC Global just about does it all—from contingent workers and security to deploying and setting up camps with kitchens during natural disasters.In this episode, AFIMAC Global's President and CEO Joe Schollaert joins host Peter List to discuss the wide variety of services AFIMAC provides to its clients in North and South America, as well as Europe.To contact AFIMAC Global, go here.For all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Will a new lawsuit filed by NLRA-covered attorneys open Janus up to certain private-sector employers to being 'joint employers' with governments who use contractors? It depends.Constitutional attorney Jeffrey Schwab from the Liberty Justice Center joins Labor Relations Radio to discuss a newly-filed case that, if successful, may open governments up to being “joint employers” with certain private-sector employers.Schwab, who is not a labor attorney, served as counsel for Mark Janus in Janus v. AFSCME, the landmark case in which the United States Supreme Court found that public employees could not be compelled to pay money to a union without their consent.In this most recent case, Schwab is representing two public defenders who work for the publicly-funded Legal Aid Society in New York City and are required to pay agency fees to the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA).The plaintiffs argue that, even though the Legal Aid Society is a private employer under the National Labor Relations Act, since the City of New York funds the pay and benefits and “attaches conditions that, at least in part, exert control over how LAS spends funds received by the City, including, for example, approving bonuses,” the protections under Janus v. AFSCME from being compelled to pay agency fees to a union should apply to them as well.Related:Will A Lawsuit Over A Union's Alleged 'Anti-Semitism' Open The Door To Expanding Janus To The Private Sector?Legal Aid lawyers sue union, claiming that dues violate First AmendmentRead the lawsuit in full here__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Internationally recognized leadership consultant and CEO of the Parone Group, Irma Parone, joins the podcast to discuss her problem-solving techniques, as well as her book WINX: The Problem-Solving Model to Win Exponentially with Customers, Employees, & Your Bottom Line and her new book WINX for Employees: The Problem-Solving Model to Unlock Workplace Success.To read more about Ms. Parone, view her bio here, or follow her on LinkedIn here.To contact Ms. Parone, visit the Parone Group website here.You can order her books on Amazon here.For all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

On this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Cary Burke, a labor attorney with Seyfarth Shaw returns to discuss a number of topics, including a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Administrative Law Judge's recent decision that a manager visiting an employee's LinkedIn profile was ‘surveillance,' the potential for the NLRB to issue a Cemex Bargaining Order at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama, as well as a number of other potential NLRB actions we might expect in the months ahead.Follow Cary Burke on LinkedIn here.Related:UAW Has Path to Reverse Mercedes Loss Under New Labor StandardLabor Relations Radio, E95—Seyfarth Shaw's Cary Burke on the 'retroactivity' of Cemex Bargaining Orders and moreFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Employers Beware: An NLRB administrative law judge found that Amazon CEO Andy Jassey's seemingly innocuous answers to interview questions violated the law.Recently, an administrative law judge (ALJ) ruled that Amazon CEO Andy Jassey's answers to interview questions violated the National Labor Relations Act.Unless the ALJ's decision regarding Jassey's seemingly innocuous statements made during various interviews in 2022 (included in this episode) is overturned, which is unlikely to happen soon, all employers' speech during union-organizing campaigns may be significantly impacted. [See the full ALJ decision here.]In this joint episode of Labor Relations Radio and Labor Relations Institute's Left of Boom show, LRI's Phil Wilson and Peter List discuss the ALJ's decision against Amazon, and its ramifications for all employers.NLRB ALJ Decision on Amazon CEO CommentsNLRB's Basic Guide to the National Labor Relations ActFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

With employee engagement the lowest it's been in 11 years, Dr. Fiona Jamison, CEO of Spring International, joins Labor Relations Radio host Peter List to discuss the “seismic shift” in employee expectations that has occurred over the past several years and how employers can adapt.Fiona's company, Spring International, is a women-owned, full-service, custom research and consulting firm located in suburban Philadelphia, PA. Across all research (policy, customer, and employee) programs, Spring has helped large corporations using customized employee engagement surveys, onboarding surveys, diversity assessments, exit interviews, & leadership assessments, as well as conducted research in 88 countries and in 25 languages.You can follow Fiona Jamison on LinkedIn here, or contact Spring International here.For all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

It's been nearly 35 years since "Employee Engagement" has been in our lexicon. How's that working out?According to Gallup, employee engagement is at its lowest point in 11 years.The term ‘Employee Engagement' has been around since 1990. Since then, corporate America has spent millions (billions?) of dollars investing in the “engagement industry”—polls, seminars, consultants and training.Why, then, is engagement still so low?What Is Employee Engagement? “Employee engagement,” according to one definition, “is a concept in human resources that refers to the degree to which employees are invested in, motivated by and passionate about the work they do and the company for which they work.” In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, returning guest Patricia Garland—author of ‘33 Ways How Not to Screw Up HR'—joins host Peter List to explore possible reasons why employee engagement is low and why, perhaps, we're asking the wrong questions.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

“When people know what the score is, they play harder.” — Paul CentenariMore than 20 years ago, Atlas Container was the cover story of an Inc. magazine article entitled, The Power of Listening (registration required).In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, host Peter List is joined by Paul Centenari, CEO of Atlas Container, a corrugated box manufacturer that practices Open Book Management (OBM).In this episode, Paul shares his views on what makes OBM a successful way to manage a business, as well as some of the challenges.Related: The Power of Listening—How does an old-line manufacturer in a stagnant industry manage to grow 25% a year for 10 years? By taking its employees seriously.For all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

David R. Osborne, Senior Fellow for Labor Policy with the Commonwealth Foundation, returns to Labor Relations Radio to discuss his new podcast, Disunion: The Government Union Report, government unions, as well as how unions are working around the Supreme Court's 2018 Janus decision.Read more about the Commonwealth Foundation here.Listen to David's podcast Disunion: Government Union Report:On SpotifyOn YouTubeFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Parents having the audacity to ask what their kids are being taught is, apparently, a bad thing.When Nicole Solas, a stay-at-home mom, was enrolling her child into kindergarten, she asked a few too many questions about what was going to be taught to her child.The lack of answers, ultimately, led to public-records requests, which then turned into a lawsuit by the teachers' union.In this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Ms. Solas joins host Peter List to discuss what led to the lawsuit against her, and the three-year saga that she has endured.In addition to being a stay-at-home mon, Ms. Solas is a non-practicing attorney and Senior Fellow at the Independent Women's Forum. She has also appeared as a parent advocate on The Ingraham Angle, Tucker Carlson Tonight, Newsmax National Report, and National Review. Her favorite appearance was on the cover of the New York Post as a featured “domestic terrorist.” She is the 2021 winner of the Goldwater Institute Freedom Award for battling education bureaucrats.  For all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

According to a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) press release, “during the first six months of Fiscal Year 2024 (October 1–March 31), union election petitions filed at NLRB field offices rose 35% over the same period in Fiscal Year 2023.”In this episode, Labor Relations Institute's Michael VanDervort joins host Peter List to discuss the union organizing trends, as well as some of the current labor relations topics of the day.Related links:The LRI Labor LibrariesLRI NewsletterFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

On this episode of Labor Relations Radio, Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT) discusses his recently-introduced bill, the Start Applying Labor Transparency (SALT) Act, legislation aimed at exposing “salting,” a common union organizing tactic where individuals are paid by labor unions to infiltrate companies to unionize employers from within.Although this nefarious tactic—which relies on deceiving employers and, more importantly, employees—has been around for a long time, in recent years, union “salting” has become more prevalent at companies like Starbucks, Amazon and numerous other companies.In addition to the SALT Act, Rep. Owens discusses the foundation he began before entering Congress, the Second Chance 4 Youth.Second Chance 4 Youth is a Utah-based non-profit program with the aim to end the cycle of generational incarceration and lower the rates of recidivism. Learn more here.Related:Owens Leads Labor Union Transparency BillAbout Second Chance 4 YouthAnalysis: Workers United paid nearly $2.5 million to organizers, "salts" and activists at StarbucksLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 20—A Primer On How Union Salts and “Moles” Undermine Companies Like Amazon and OthersLabor Relations Radio, E116—Labor Attorney Marc Furman and Dealing With Union SaltsFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

A pro-union writer does a hit piece about a not-so-secret secret...actually, the WORST-KEPT SECRET EVER!Last week, Mike Elk, a pro-union writer, who owns a website called PayDay Report, did a hit piece on me entitled “Anti-UAW Union Buster Secretly Behind Hit Labor News Site.” Here is my response.Perhaps, we owe you an explanation...Union Watchdog: UAW Leaders Bask In Puerto Rico As Members Get Laid OffCongress Should Investigate UAW's Neutrality Agreement & Works Council Scam At VWAfter Volkswagen Loss, UAW Bosses Turn To Bovine Excrement ManufacturingThe UAW At VW: A Desperate Old Dog Tries A Very Old (And Illegal) TrickA Lesson In U.S. Labor Law & How The UAW Is Lying Its Way Into The South With VW's HelpWhy Are VW's German Union Bosses Backtracking On Their Expansion Ultimatum Now?Anti-UAW Workers File NLRB Charges Over VW's Pro-Union CoercionWhy Doesn't The UAW Want A Secret-Ballot Election At VW?Anti-UAW Workers File NLRB Charges Over VW's Pro-Union CoercionDeutschland Meets Detroit: UAW partners with German union to launch all-out invasion of Mercedes & VW plants in U.S.For all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Why do so many unions seem to support open borders and illegal immigration? Capital Research Center's Michael Watson shares the background why.Have you ever wondered why, on the topic of immigration, unions have gone from protectionism to tacitly supporting so-called “open borders?”In the episode of Labor Relations Radio, Michael Watson, Research Director for the Capital Research Center shares what can be considered an ‘origin story' on how unions went from favoring tighter restrictions on immigration to almost no restrictions at all today.Check out Michael Watson's work at the Capitol Research Center:The Turn at the Millennium: Why Big Labor Switched Sides on ImmigrationBig Labor's Decline and Left Turn: Membership DeclineBig Labor's Decline and Left Turn: A Trade Unionist in the White HouseBig Labor's Decline and Left Turn: Causes of the Long DeclineBig Labor's Decline and Left Turn: Labor's Private-Sector LeftBig Labor's Decline and Left Turn: A New Power RisesFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.

Reputation Partners' CEO Nick Kalm returns to Labor Relations Radio to discuss Chicago politics, our nation's immigration challenges, as well as to share some political observations and prognostications regarding the 2024 national elections.Related:The Chicago Teachers Union Wants to End Student Homelessness at the Bargaining TableLabor Relations Radio, E99—Do unions have an Anti-Israel problem? A conversation with Nick KalmLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 45—Guests Nick Kalm and Haley Hartmann on Gen Z in the WorkplaceLabor Relations Radio, Ep. 9—Reputation Partners' CEO Nick Kalm On Attacks On Company BrandsFor all prior episodes of Labor Relations Radio, go here.__________________________LaborUnionNews.com's Labor Relations Radio is a subscriber-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber here.