It can be stated that a considerable number of employers are against labor unions, and some companies may resort to extreme and even unlawful measures to stop a union from being formed among their employees. Seek the help of an employment law attorney in Westchester County, NY if you are facing a similar issue.
Let’s explore some of the most prevalent tactics that employers use to deter employees from unionizing:
Terminating Employees Involved in Labor Organizing or Pro-Union Activities:
Terminating employees who are involved in labor organizing or are pro-union is a clear and direct approach that some employers take. However, firing employees for their involvement in union activity, filing charges, or testifying pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) is illegal. Therefore, most employers trying to prevent unionization will not take such obvious actions and will not terminate employees simply for their involvement in labor organizing.
Rigged Evaluations:
Rather than firing an employee for engaging in union activity, some employers may misuse their disciplinary or evaluation systems to justify their dismissal. Employees who support unionizing may receive worse job evaluations over time or face unusually severe punishments for minor infractions. This creates a pretext for employers to reduce their pay, cut their benefits, or terminate their employment.
Hosting Captive Audience Meetings:
Employers can utilize their power to make their workers listen to their perspectives without allowing them to respond. They do this through “captive audience” meetings, where employees are required to attend and listen to anti-union messages as part of their job. Refusal to attend can lead to negative consequences, such as formal discipline or loss of pay and benefits.
Surveilling Employee Interactions:
Employers who prefer to be less obvious may utilize their power over communication channels such as email servers to surveil their employees. This grants them the capability to identify individuals who are considering unionizing or supporting unions. With this knowledge, they can focus their efforts on suppressing union organizing attempts and labor organizers.
Deceptive Assurances:
If all other tactics are unsuccessful, some employers might offer better working conditions, pay, or benefits to employees in exchange for not unionizing. However, many employers fail to keep their promises if the attempt to unionize fails or only maintains the promises temporarily. Only unions have the power to ensure that employers continuously treat their employees better, even when it’s inconvenient for the employer.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re facing similar issues, seek the advice of an employment law attorney in your area to protect your rights and seek justice. Unions play a critical role in ensuring fair treatment and better working conditions for employees, and it’s essential to support them in their efforts to build a better workplace.
