Labor & Employment Law

Three Executive Orders Issued by President Obama

President Obama issued three Executive Orders applicable to labor law, which, in part, specifically reversed policy under President Bush.  And, its time for the DOL to update it's website for our new President.

Here are the new Executive Orders:

Economy in Government Contracting
This Executive Order specifically prohibits federal contractors from using federal monies received under their contracts to persuade employees not to join a union.

Non displacement of Qualified Workers under Service Contracts
The second Executive Order creates rights for employees of federal contractors when a contract changes hands to continue employment with the successor employer. New federal service contracts covered by the Service Contract Act must now contain language specifically addressing this right. The successor employer cannot hire new employees until all of the employees of the previous employer have been offered jobs. This Order is viewed by many as one that will perpetuate union security in the successor firm.
 

Notification of Employee Rights under Federal Law
The third Executive Order essentially kills the Beck Notice. The Beck Notice requirement issued under the Bush administration have been revoked. The Beck notices was a requirement that federal contractors provide notice to employees of the fact that unions could not use member dues for issues unrelated to collective bargaining without the consent of the members. The Beck Notice was required as a result of the holding in a Supreme Court case. The US Department of Labor has been directed to issue a new notice which will replace the Beck Notice which will also provide information to employees about their right to form and join a union.

We should be seeing further guidance from the Department of Labor on these Orders.  Times, they are a changin'! 

OK, so why does the DOL need to update its site?  When I searched on the DOL website for "Obama," the site thought I made an error and suggested I might try "Osama."  Maybe we can get the DOL to update their search engine soon?!

Full post as published by Strategic HR Lawyer on February 09, 2009 (boomark / email).