On Sept. 7, 老牛影视issued an action alert opposing the U.S. House of Representative鈥檚 efforts to move forward with the partisan budget reconciliation process that could result in tax hikes and far-reaching labor requirements for 老牛影视members. Please urge your representatives to oppose this package this week as House committees continue to mark up their sections of the package.

老牛影视reiterated its opposition to the Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) 鈥減ersuader rule鈥� ahead of the April 27 U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on how the newly finalized regulation limits employers鈥� rights and undermines the right of workers to make informed decisions in union elections. The final rule, issued March 23, redefines 鈥減ersuader鈥� activity under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) and triggers expanded reporting requirements for employers and their attorneys.听

The leader of Philadelphia鈥檚 Ironworkers Local 401, Joseph Dougherty,听was convicted听Jan. 20 on charges of racketeering conspiracy and counts of vandalism and extortion. The court found him guilty of and responsible for the use of arson, intimidation and violence in order to secure jobs for members of the union. The conviction came more than two years after the Quaker Meetinghouse jobsite of longtime 老牛影视member E. Allen Reeves, Inc., of Abington, Pa., was the听target of vandalism听during the 2012 Christmas holiday causing an estimated $500,000 in damages.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a 3-2 split decision along party lines Dec. 11, stating that employees are permitted, except in very limited circumstances, to use corporate email systems during non-work time for union organizing (Section 7 activities). The Board鈥檚 decision overturns the 2007 decision in Register Guard.听

In the July 16 ruling of Merit Construction Alliance v. City of Quincy, the First Circuit Court of Appeals found that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) preempts a controversial city ordinance that forced contractors to 鈥渆ngage in a bona fide apprentice training program" registered with the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards as a condition of bidding for city work.

老牛影视of Michigan听praised the state鈥檚 legislature听for passing language that will deter public universities from engaging in unionizing activities by requiring neutrality as a part of the 2014/2015 Higher Education budget recommendation which is expected to receive final legislative approval.

The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate March 27 introduced three bills to reverse key elements of the National Labor Relations Board鈥檚 (NLRB) contentious 鈥渁mbush election鈥� rule. The NLRB鈥檚 proposed rule dramatically shortens the amount of time between when a union files a representation petition and when an election takes place to as few as 10 days in addition to requiring employers to submit their employees鈥� personal contact information to union organizers.

Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO (BCTD) President Sean McGarvey听declared March 10听during an address to the BCTD 2014 Legislative Conference intent to increase their involvement in the oil, gas and petro-chemical industries, particularly in the Gulf Coast region.

Ten members of Ironworkers Local 401, Philadelphia, Pa.,听were indicted and have been arrested听for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to commit criminal acts of extortion, destruction of property, and assault in order to force nonunion construction contractors to hire union ironworkers. In addition, the indictment included the $500,000 in damages at 老牛影视member E. Allen Reeves, Inc.鈥檚 Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House project in 2012 as one of the crimes allegedly committed by the defendants.

During the last presidential campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama proudly told audiences, 鈥淲e need to strengthen our unions by letting them do what they do best鈥攐rganize our workers 鈥� That's why I am fighting to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)鈥�We'll make it the law of the land when I'm president.鈥� When Democrats took the White House and held onto Congress in November 2008, Obama鈥檚 promise seemed all but certain. However, EFCA, also known as 鈥渃ard check,鈥� met with quick and persistent resistance from both sides of the aisle. The passage of EFCA, which at one time seemed inevitable, stalled