The Department of Labor (DOL) announced July 17 that it would rescind an Obama-era rule known as the Persuader Rule. This 2016 regulation would have required more disclosures from employers that work with consultants to counter union activities. The rule required employers and consultants to disclose not only when they reached an agreement regarding activities to persuade employees about 鈥渉ow or whether to exercise their collective bargaining rights,鈥 but also when consultants simply provided advice, including 鈥渞ecommending drafts of or revisions to鈥peeches and communications鈥 that were intended to influence employees with regard to collective bargaining and other organizational rights.
07-19-2018The Department of Labor has proposed rescinding the Obama Administration’s changes to the so-called “persuader rule.” The proposal is supported by the employer community and opposed by organized labor, and represents another step that the Trump Administration is taking to peel back some of the Obama Administration’s labor initiatives.
06-19-2017The Department of Labor on May 23 sent to the Office of Management and Budget鈥檚 Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) a new proposed rulemaking rescinding the Obama Administration鈥檚 persuader rule.
05-26-2017The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas on Nov. 16 enjoined the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) from implementing and enforcing its recent changes to the Persuader Rule.
11-21-2016The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas on June 27 granted a preliminary injunction that temporarily prevents the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) from implementing and enforcing its recent changes to the Persuader Rule. That rule was scheduled to take effect July 1. The injunction will be in effect until the district court issues a decision on the merits of the lawsuit or a higher court overrules the injunction if the DOL appeals it.
06-28-2016July 1 marks the deadline when employers and consultants must comply with the Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) new 鈥淧ersuader Rule.鈥
06-24-2016Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) recently introduced a resolution (H.J. Res 87) under the Congressional Review Act to nullify the Department of Labor鈥檚 controversial final persuader rule, which went into effect April 25.
04-29-2016The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Associated Builders and Contractors and other business groups filed a lawsuit in federal court in Arkansas March 30 challenging the Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) final Persuader Rule.
04-01-2016The Department of Labor (DOL) on March 23 issued its final “Persuader Rule,” requiring employers and their hired labor-relations consultants to disclose far more of their communications to employees. The employer community has expressed concern that the rule will limit employers’ access to expert advice as to how to communicate with employees regarding the pros and cons of unionization.
03-25-2016The Department of Labor (DOL) has set a December timeframe for issuing the Persuader Rule, which would limit ways in which employers can communicate with their employees as they decide whether to unionize.
05-27-2015