The Wall Street Journal — August 26 — Business groups that feared a new federal rule would speed hundreds of union-organizing elections were right: The average election time has fallen by 40% since the rule took effect in April.
The revamped process has whittled down the election process for private-sector workers to about three weeks on average, compared with about five weeks or more during fiscal 2014.
The finding—based on data from the National Labor Relations Board, which completed the rule in December to streamline the election process—is drawing fire from groups concerned that companies won’t have enough time to push back against union campaigns under the new guidelines.
Unions said the changes would prevent employers from using frivolous litigation to stall a vote, and have long complained that the longer the election, the more time employers have to unlawfully intimidate workers into voting no.
Since the rule kicked in, labor groups and employees have filed a steady flow of petitions to the NLRB to hold elections on forming unions at large and small businesses, including at Nestlé Waters North America Inc. and Pulau Corp.
An NLRB spokeswoman said the board hasn’t determined if unions are winning more elections under the rule. They won 68% of elections in fiscal 2014 ended Sept. 30.
Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-labor-board-rule-speeds-union-votes-1440631756
