This ‘union-busting’ calculator arms workers with information
When employees dare to organize their workplace, a $1.7 billion industry of consultants and law firms springs into action. According to the Labor Department , something like 75% of employers enlist union avoidance consultants to quash union efforts. Some of them, including major companies like Amazon and 3M, spend many millions of dollars on those consultants, who can also double as legal…
The LaborLab nonprofit workers' rights organization has launched tools to empower workers with information about their employers' union-busting tactics. These tools can provide workers with insights into how their employer may respond to organizing efforts, as well as the costs and potential legal representation involved. According to the Labor Department, around 75% of employers enlist union avoidance consultants, who can also serve as legal representation for companies.
Major companies such as Amazon and 3M have reportedly spent millions of dollars on these consultants. While employees are legally required to disclose their union avoidance costs, loopholes often allow employers to underreport these expenses. Consequently, the union-busting cost calculator estimates the various costs companies incur while fighting union efforts, including legal fees and lost productivity.
LaborLab's tools have already been utilized by various workers, including a nurse practitioner at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle and a bartender at the New York cocktail bar Attaboy. The tools have helped these workers gain a better understanding of their employer's spending and the potential impact on their ability to organize successfully.
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