Welcome to the Barnes and Thornburg Labor Relations weblog

Welcome to our blog!

Managed by experienced labor law attorneys at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, the BT Labor Relations blog aims to be a source for news, analysis, and commentary on traditional labor legal issues. With contributors from Barnes and Thornburg’s offices around the country, we provide a national perspective on labor law issues affecting employers across all industries. While we intend to focus on the National Labor Relations Board and the private sector, expect occasional posts on state labor issues and public employees as well.

It has been a fascinating year in the traditional labor realm, and we expect 2012 to be just as active.

Some highlights from 2011 include:

• The publication of the NLRB’s final notice posting rule and subsequent delay in the effective date due to a number of federal lawsuits filed to challenge the rule.
  
• The Board’s controversial filing of a complaint against Boeing claiming unlawful transfer of work, which many interpreted as an attempt by the NLRB to shut down Boeing’s new South Carolina facility.
  
• A new emphasis by the Board on social media and protected concerted activity.
  
  
• Significant decisions by the Board on appropriate bargaining units and timing for decertification that overturn prior precedent. (One of the latter, Lamons Gasket Co., was litigated by BT’s Keith White, a partner in our Fort Wayne, Indiana office.)
  
  
• Legislation introduced in Congress to curb what many Republicans view as the “activist agenda of the National Labor Relations Board.”
  
  
• Proposed rules which would expedite the representation election process, with a vote on drafting a final rule scheduled for this week.

With so many significant changes so far this year (as well as Member Becker’s recess appointment expiring on December 31), there are a lot of questions still to be answered on the future of traditional labor as we move into 2012. Needless to say, it is unlikely to be dull. We are excited to explore the impact of these and other changes over the coming months and hope that you will join us.

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