Organizing Campaigns: Is Your Company the Union’s Next Target?

The largest and best-connected unions in the United States have publicly declared war against some of the major financial institutions across the country, including TARP recipients. Historically, banks and other financial institutions have not been the target of union organizing activity. However, labor unions are hungry for new industries.

Unions are waging anti-corporate campaigns designed to force employers to recognize unions without a secret ballot election. These tactics make virtually any employer a tempting target of organizing and would severely limit employers’ ability to wage a typical union avoidance campaign.

President Obama, a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act when he was a Senator, has stated his intent to sign that bill or similar legislation if it comes to his desk. Additionally, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of the largest and most successful unions, has announced plans to organize banks and other financial institutions which have received TARP funds. President Obama's selection of outspoken union advocates to key government positions, such as Secretary of Labor, his pro-labor nominations to the NLRB, and his recent issuance of three pro-labor Executive Orders signal the new administration's strong support of organized labor. One of these orders prohibits federal contractors from using federal funds to influence employees’ selection of a union. It remains to be seen whether this order will apply to those in the financial industry receiving TARP funds, thereby prohibiting those companies from using federal funds to educate their employees about unions or setting forth the company’s position on unionization.

As the largest and preeminent labor and employment law firm in the United States, Littler has developed a comprehensive strategy for those in the financial industry to deal with this new organizing climate. 

Please join us on May 19, 2009 for this complimentary web seminar led by Co-Chairs of Littler Mendelson’s Labor Relations Practice Group, John Skonberg and James Ferber, and Littler Labor Attorney Jenna Barresi, as they address the potential challenges and risks the financial sector is facing.  This 60-minute program is specifically designed to educate financial industry employers on how best to handle union organizing. Human resources professionals and legal counsel of employers in the financial services sector are encouraged to attend.

We hope you can join us on Tuesday, May 19, 2009
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM MDT
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CDT
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

For questions, please contact Keith Upton at 415.399.8450 or kupton@littler.com. 

Continuing education credits are pending for this program.