Labor Management Relations

Strikes and Picketing

Strikes and labor actions are a reality of the unionized work environment. As unsettling as such actions may be, employers weather the storm best when they are strategically prepared for the worst. Keeping operations running smoothly amidst the chaos of a strike and the attendant picketing or handbilling is challenging, to say the least. And even though every effort should be made to reach an acceptable resolution, a strike plan and arrangements to accommodate picketing is essential. The plan must take into account every contingency to ensure minimal disruption of employee operations and the continuation of business.

Every day, unionized employers throughout the nation call upon Littler to help guide them through the strike preparation process. The Firm advises them on all possible contingencies, including the possibility of shutting down operations, continuing with temporary or contingent workers, hiring new employees, and/or increasing security during the strike. To best protect against mass picketing, and to limit the chance of secondary picketing, the Firm prepares injunction papers in advance, so that any unlawful actions can be stopped or quickly limited. For businesses with multiple pick-up and delivery sites, the Firm advises employers on how best to notify customers and law enforcement about the possibility of ambulatory picketing.

The extent of the Firm's labor, union, and strike experience means that Littler attorneys are well versed in helping employers prepare before a strike occurs to keep the impact and disruption minimal, counter the tactics used by unions during strikes and picketing, and recoup any losses caused by illegal strike activity. And over the last 60-plus years, the Firm has helped thousands of unionized employers weather this difficult process with as little disruption to their business and operations as possible.