The NLRB and you

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.kansascity.com/194/story/81236.html

The NLRB and you
By RANDOLPH HEASTER
The Kansas City Star

The National Labor Relations Board is known for resolving disputes between employers and unions, but some of the laws applied by the agency pertain to nonunion workers as well.

Stan Williams, deputy regional attorney in the NLRB’s Overland Park office, said the agency is making a renewed effort to educate the general public about the NLRB through its Outreach and Public Information programs.

“We are trying to take a more proactive approach to get information out about what we do and what your rights are in the workplace,” said Williams, who was appointed to his post earlier this month. “We’re making efforts to reach people who may not know about us or may have reservations about contacting us.”

Upon request, the NLRB will send a representative at no charge to speak to any type of organization, including employee or employer groups, associations, schools and public agencies.

One of the NLRB’s principal roles is to monitor elections in workplaces where hourly employees are seeking to form a union.

Unions also go to the federal agency to file unfair-labor-practice charges against employers, but Williams said that option also may be available to nonunion workers.

“For example, I’ve talked to HR (human resources) people regarding restrictions on solicitations,” he said. “Nonunion employees have a right to engage other employees in a concerted activity on their own time, like signing a petition to protest some type of action by the company.”

FULL story at link.