Beginning June 21, 2010, businesses that contract and subcontract with the Federal government are required to display a notice that outlines employee’s rights under the National Labor Relations Act to unionize and collectively bargain with their employer. This requirement is just the most recent outcome of the current administration’s actions involving employer-employee relations and third party representation.
Included on this poster is a list of unlawful employer activities and contact information for the National Labor Relations Board. In West Michigan, we recognize the hard work of our employees and their contributions that make our companies successful. We pride ourselves in the mutual respect between employers and employees, and this includes open communication between the two with no need for third party intervention. This poster requirement, under Executive Order 13496 signed by President Obama, seems to disregard this respect and encourage employees to seek representation by bringing grievances to the NLRB, not their supervisors.
According to the Department of Labor, Executive Order 13496 “ . . . advances the Administration’s goal of promoting economy and efficiency of Federal government procurement by ensuring that workers employed in the private sector and engaged in activity related to the performance of Federal government contracts are informed of their rights to form, join, or assist a union and bargain collectively with their employer. Knowledge of such basic statutory rights promotes stable labor-management relations, thus reducing costs to the Federal government.”
The Department of Labor states that the notice must be posted both physically and electronically, if the Federal contractor or subcontractor posts notices electronically. Noncompliance could include suspension of the current federal contract and future federal contract work.
The tone of the poster seems to invite third-party representation, and it is unfortunate that the government is requiring its contractors to post such a message. We should keep in mind that the key to a successful relationship between employers and employees is to understand workforce needs and to build strong relationships between employees and supervisors. This may include some internal training on what third-party representation really means to an organization, and how to really listen to employee needs. Good two-way communication between management and employees has always been part of the formula that makes West Michigan Work.
Click here to see the poster.
Click here to read Executive Order 13496: Notification of Employee Rights under Federal Labor Laws.
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