From corporate campaigns to unfair labor practice charges, FordHarrison provides labor relations counsel to both unionized and non-union clients.
Although union membership has fallen significantly over the years, the union win rate has increased as unions have become more strategic and aggressive in their approach to organizing activities.
Following several years of decline, recent federal data shows that union membership is poised for a potential rise as major unions have seen an increase in members. While overall membership remains low, these sporadic gains, coupled with an uptick in union win rates and a swell of high-profile strikes, could embolden union leadership across the country to aggressively seek new organizing opportunities and exponentially grow their ranks. Additionally, unions continue to move beyond traditional manufacturing and specialty service industries, expanding into a much wider range of industry targets not typically associated with labor organizing. Food service, retail, warehousing, and gig economy employers, for example, are all prime targets for unionization.
At FordHarrison, our experienced team of labor relations attorneys counsel employers in connection with collective bargaining and union organizing drives. We represent and advise employers in all phases of labor relations under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The firm also advises unionized and union-free clients on the impact of mergers, acquisitions and restructurings and helps clients conduct due diligence on labor and employment issues.
For union-free employers we:
- develop effective, lawful strategies for maintaining positive employee relations;
- advise on the lawful handling of concerted activities and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) representation election proceedings;
- handle investigations and, if necessary, trials and appeals of unfair labor practice charges; and
- conduct training for all levels of management on their roles and responsibilities in leadership and legal compliance.
For unionized employers we:
- counsel on collective bargaining strategies and contract administration issues;
- represent clients in negotiations, grievance and arbitration cases, unfair labor practice charges, strikes, injunctions, and other litigation; and
- advise on the lawful handling of NLRB decertification proceedings.