Union Free Radio

Back-door card check is on its way this year, says Labor Relations Institute's Phil Wilson. Last August (2021), the National Labor Relations Board's General Counsel, Jennifer A. Abruzzo, sent a lengthy memo to all NLRB regions seeking cases from its regions to submit specific types of cases to her for advice. Among the many types of cases that General Counsel Abruzzo is seeking are cases which would lead to the imposition of what is known as "card check," which would eliminate most secret-ballot elections over the topic of unionization. "Cases in which an employer refuses to recognize and bargain with a union where the union presents evidence of a card majority, but where the employer is unable to establish a good faith doubt as to majority status; specifically, where the employer refusing to recognize has either engaged in unfair labor practices or where the employer is unable to explain its reason for doubting majority status in rejecting the union’s demand. See Joy Silk Mills, Inc., 85 NLRB 1263 (1949)." [See below under: Employer duty to recognize and/or bargain, on page 7.] In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List speaks with Phil Wilson of the Labor Relations Institute (LRI) about card check and a number of other labor relations issues employers are facing under the Biden NLRB. Articles and Resources Mentioned On This Episode NLRB GC - Mandatory Submissions To Advice | PDF Joy Silk Mills v. National Labor Rel. Board, 185 F.2d 732 Why Labor Law Needs "Joy Silk" Bargaining Orders The Scandalous Story Of How "Joy Silk" Disappeared From Labor Law An Update on Labor Law Lite - by Brandon Magner

The PRO Act being pushed by unions and their allies is a dangerously bad bill that threatens jobs, companies and America’s Free Enterprise system. Here’s why: Unions and their Democratic Party allies–like the Democratic Socialists of America–are pushing Congress to enact the so-called “Protecting the Right to Organize Act,” which President Biden has vowed to sign. The bill is a massive rewrite of U.S. labor and employment laws that threatens jobs and job creators, as well as the American Free Enterprise system. In this episode of Union Free Radio, LaborUnionReport.com editor Peter List explains the top five reasons why the PRO Act is so bad. Articles cited in this episode: FACTS ABOUT THE SO-CALLED “PRO” ACT – PROActFacts.org 61% of Small Businesses Say PRO Act Will Destroy Their Business – Small Business Trends It’s MAYDAY for the PRO Act!!, Democratic Socialists of America, Facebook Meet PRO Act legislation threatens franchise small businesses PRO Act for a Green New Deal – Workers and the World Unite Sydney Ghazarian – KeyWiki Counting the number of businesses in the United States

A wide-ranging discussion with Ben Brubeck of the Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), one of the largest trade associations for merit-shop construction contractors and their employees. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national construction industry trade association representing more than 21,000 members, mostly small union-free contractors and their employees, with 69 chapters nationwide. In this hour-long, wide-ranging discussion, Ben Brubeck, ABC's Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State affairs, discusses ABC's position on a host of topics, such as vaccine mandates, infrastructure, Build Back Better, the Davis-Bacon Act, Project Labor Agreements, apprenticeship programs and more. Click here for prior episodes of Union Free Radio.

The NLRB is going to re-institute "Micro Units." Here's what you need to know... Labor law in the United States (under the National Labor Relations Board) swings like a pendulum whenever the political party controlling the White House changes. With the PRO Act stalled in Congress and President Biden vowing to be "the most pro-union President in American history," his appointees at the National Labor Relations Board are working full time to fulfill his vow, signaling a host of changes that will make it more difficult for employers and their employees to remain union-free. One such change is the likely return to "micro units". In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List provides the definition to such labor relations concepts as "bargaining units," "community of interest," as well as the background to "micro units" and why they are bad for both employers and unions. Articles and resources cited in this episode: The Relevance of Coherence | Joseph Raz NLRB Invites Briefs Regarding Appropriate Bargaining Units | Dec. 7, 2021 Definition: Bargaining unit | Legal Information Institute Definition: Community of Interest Law and Legal Definition | USLegal.com 29 CFR § 103.30 - Appropriate bargaining units in the health care industry. | Legal Information Institute What's Appropriate: The NLRB Overturns Specialty Healthcare | Littler Mendelson P.C. National Labor Relations Board to decide whether labor organizers can use ‘micro union’ targets [2011] Divide, Conquer & Destroy: NLRB Region Unleashes Micro-Unit On Retailer [2012] Bergdorf Goodman Sales Associates From Separate Shoe Departments Lacked Community of Interest: NLRB | Practical Law Employer business establishments in the U.S. 2019, by employment size | Statista More Starbucks stores file for unionization over the past two weeks

Unions and their allies are calling the Kellogg strike a "win." But, is it? The 11-week Kellogg strike is over. However, while the union movement is calling it a "win," some strikers and some reporters are questioning whether the strike was, in fact, a "win" or a failure. In this last episode of Union Free Radio for 2021, host Peter List walks listeners through the main-reported issues of the strike, as well as how much strikers potentially lost. Articles and resources cited in this episode: Kellogg strike ends as members ratify new contract | | wnem.com Kellogg’s Strike Ends: BCTGM Members Ratify New Contract Kellogg's Threatened To Replace Strikers. That Doesn't Mean It Will Work. | HuffPost Impact Details of Kellogg Final Offer [in PDF] Statement by President Joe Biden On Kellogg Collective Bargaining Negotiations | The White House Some Battle Creek Kellogg workers feel betrayed by new union deal Voting closes on concessions contract at Kellogg’s, while union uses divide-and-conquer tactics to break strike - World Socialist Web Site Labor Board v. Mackay Radio & Telegraph Co. :: 304 U.S. 333 (1938) | Justia US Supreme Court Center ‘Death of 1,000 cuts’: Kellogg’s workers on why they’re striking | Business | The Guardian Kellogg to permanently replace striking workers as union rejects new contract | Financial Post BCTGM Kellogg’s Members Reject Tentative Agreement; Strike Continues Employees reject tentative agreement; Kellogg focuses on continuing operations - Dec 7, 2021 Big raises in store for U.S. workers in 2022, report says - The Washington Post Kellogg's workers reject deal; strike continues for now Twinkies Maker Will Close After Strike - ABC News Have Twinkies Killed the Union Movement? 'Financially, this is a really scary moment': Kellogg employees enter

Despite the fact that over 90% of employees in unions today never voted to unionize, unions spend millions of dollars bankrolling union organizers and politicians to put more people into unions. However, there are very few resources for employees to learn how to kick an unwanted union out of their workplace---and employers are legally forbidden to help them. In this episode of Union Free Radio, in addition to providing listeners a step-by-step "how-to" guide to decertify unions, host Peter List walks listeners through the decertification process and some of the legal terminology---from Election Bars and Contract Bars to Blocking Charges---that is important for employees to understand if they are interested in decertification. "If you say you believe in the Freedom of Association or the right to join a particular organization (like a group, a social club, a political party, or a union), you’ve also got to believe in its concomitant, which is the Freedom to Disassociate from that organization." List states. "If you don’t, you’re nothing more than a hypocrite." Articles and resources cited in this episode: For other episodes of Union Free Radio, click here. WARNING: This is for employees only. This is NOT for management Unelected Representatives: 94 percent of Union Members Never Voted for a Union Mountaire employees ask for vote to disband union at Delaware plant ExxonMobil shares details about coming union vote How can I resign my union membership? - National Right to Work Foundation NLRB's Basic Guide To The National Labor Relations Act KickMyUnionOut.com | Is the Timing Right? KickMyUnionOut.com | Steps To Decertifying A Union Sample Decertification Form

Although many people are aware of the "Fight for $15" campaign, most probably do not know that it was never intended to be about merely raising the minimum wage. The genesis of the entire campaign was designed in 2009 by the SEIU---or Service Employees International Union---as a way to unionize millions of the nation's fast-food workers. In fact, the actual $15 per hour figure was arbitrarily picked---almost as an afterthought---only two months before the first astroturf protest in 2012. In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List explains the history of the SEIU's Fight for $15 campaign, as well as its aftermath and how it is affecting the economy following the 2020 crash. Articles and resources cited in this episode: LaborPains.org | Report Gives Union Members Insight Into 20 Years of Labor Finances Fast Food Restaurants in the US - Employment Statistics | IBISWorld SEIU's New Burger Queen? Internal Documents Expose Plan to Unionize Fast-Food Industry SEIU Fast Food Organizing Plan - 2009 | PDF Opinion: Fast-food worker strikes aren’t what they appear to be - MarketWatch Why $15 Minimum Wage is a Bad Idea | American Enterprise Institute Media Advisory: Who’s Behind the Curtain of the Fast Food “Strikes”? - Employment Policies Institute $15 an Hour Minimum Wage Is Norm Due to Market Forces, Not Mandates - Bloomberg Why the US has a record 10.9 million job openings | Quartz Why America has 8.4 million unemployed when there are 10 million job openings | The Washington Post $15 an Hour Minimum Wage Is Norm Due to Market Forces, Not Mandates - Bloomberg Wage Push Inflation | Investopedia ‘Build Back Better’ agenda will ensure strong, stable recovery in coming years | Economic Policy Institute Savings surge during the pandemic - Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Fast-food wages climbed 10% in la

Unions are legally allowed to lie to workers when unionizing them. Why? According to National Labor Relations Board doctrine, "Employees are generally able to understand that a union cannot obtain benefits automatically by winning an election but must seek to achieve them through collective bargaining." In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List explores the legal background of unions deceiving workers, as well as ponders the question: Instead of Congress and the NLRB looking at ways to make it easier for unions to unionize workers through deception, shouldn't Congress should really be considering a bill to require unions to be more honest with workers? There is a Truth in Lending Act; there are all kinds of consumer protection laws… Why not a Truth in Union Organizing Act? Articles and resources cited in this episode: PROMISES, PROMISES: Rethinking the NLRB's Distinction Between Employer and Union Promises During Representation Campaigns (in PDF) AFL-CIO's New President Breaks With Trumka, Supports Secret Ballot in Union Elections For other episodes of Union Free Radio, click here.

Last week, the nation's union bosses selected a new AFL-CIO president. For those who were hoping for a union movement that is less reliant on politics, it doesn’t appear that’s going to be happening anytime soon Last Friday, the AFL-CIO Executive Council---the 'board of directors' for the nation's largest union federation---selected Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Shuler to replace Richard Trumka, who died earlier this month from an apparent heart attack. By choosing Shuler and, as well based on her first interview, the federation signaled its continuation of focusing on political outcomes, as opposed to 'self reliance.' In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List covers Shuler's stated direction for the union federation, as well as covers how AFL-CIO misleads the public about CEO Pay. For prior episodes of Union Free Radio, go here. Links to articles and sources cited in this podcast: Union Free Radio, Ep. 12: Richard Trumka's Successor & Vaccine Mandates Liz Shuler elected as AFL-CIO’s first woman president - The Washington Post AFL-CIO’s Shuler Says Priority Is Overhaul of U.S. Labor Laws - Bloomberg As Biden Faces a Political Crisis, His Party Looks On in Alarm - The New York Times FACT: Top AFL-CIO Union Fat Cats Rake In More Than Average CEOs In U.S.

The unexpected death of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka comes at an interesting time for unions, as they stand at a 'crossroads' and grapple with vaccine mandates in the American workplace. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka died suddenly last Thursday. Rather than focus on Richard Trumka's long history as a union leader, in this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List discusses who might replace Trumka and the "crossroads" the union movement now finds itself. Additionally, List covers the topic of mandatory vaccines policies (aka Get Jabbed or Get Fired)---which was one of Trumka's last public statements on the labor federation's position---and the ramifications of unions acquiescing to mandatory vaccine policies. For prior episodes of Union Free Radio, go here. Links to articles and sources cited in this podcast: New York Times | Richard Trumka, A.F.L.-C.I.O. Chief, Dies at 72 AFL-CIO | Trumka: Joe Biden’s Firewall Was Union Made Washington Post | President Biden nominates Rich Trumka Jr. to CPSC seat NPR | How The Labor Movement Did A 180 On Immigration BLET | Unions criticize AFL-CIO leadership LaborUnionReport.com | Communist Party USA Chair: "...we are part of building labor's independent structures." Jacobin | Socialists and Organized Labor Are Uniting to Change Pro-Boss Labor Laws Bloomberg | AFL-CIO Head Trumka’s Death Leaves Void Atop U.S. Labor Movement Watch Union Members March On The 'Anti-Union' AFL-CIO Bizarre Dispute Over Expense Account Sparks Power Struggle In the Top Ranks of the AFL-CIO Executive Council Members | AFL-CIO Politico | Where does the AFL-CIO go from here? C-SPAN | Richard Trumka Vaccine Mandates Bloomberg Law | Unions Split Over Vaccine Mandates as Variant Threatens Workers More here.

“A union’s bargaining power depends on three main elements: The right to strike, the ability to strike effectively, and the company’s ability to withstand a strike.” -- Teamster Strike Manual Since the end of the government lockdowns, work stoppages are (unoffcially) on the rise. In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List walks listeners through the more technical aspects of the different types of labor disputes--both union and non-union--from strikes and lockouts, as well as non-union employees' Section Seven Rights when it comes to strikes. Links to articles and references used in this episode of Union Free Radio: John Morris, 76; Led Philadelphia Teamsters for 44 Years Till Ouster Conversations: John P. Morris; A Disillusioned Teamster Boss Doubts Even He Can Save Labor Activision Blizzard workers walk out after sexual harassment lawsuit Union advocates rally in New York to support striking Alabama coalminers BLS: Work Stoppages Home Page BLS: In 2020 there were 8 major work stoppages, the third lowest number since 1947 Payday Tracks Its 1,400th Strike as "Retail Worker Rebellion" Grows Labor Dispute Law and Legal Definition | USLegal, Inc. What is a Work Stoppage? | HRZone Strike | Definition of Strike at Dictionary.com NLRB: Protected Concerted Activity NLRB | A Basic Guide to the National Labor Relations Act (PDF) Experts: UAW and Volvo face risks in current contract impasse Volvo workers issue statement: “Where we are, what we’ve gone through and what’s next in our struggle”

'Why buy the cow, when you can get the milk for free?' On July 4, 2021, New York City's "Just Cause Law" took effect for fast-food operators and their employees. Although many employers may be concerned these types of laws will spread to other municipalities or states, that may not necessarily be a bad thing. In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List unravels the history of "employment at will," the mystery of "Just Cause Discipline," as well as "Progressive Discipline," and explains how New York City's new law may actually hurt, rather than help, today's unions. "Once The State, or 'Big Brother,' is mandating wages and 'fair treatment,'" List asks, "how many workers will voluntarily give a portion of their paychecks to advocacy group—or unions?" Links to articles and sources cited in this podcast: Employment-at-will Doctrine Servitude and Captivity in the Common Law of Master-Servant: Judicial Interpretations of the Thirteenth Amendment’s Labor Vision Immediately After Its Enactment [in PDF] Employment-at-Will Does Not Mean What You Think It Means | Inc.com [Montana] Wrongful Discharge From Employment Act (WDEA) Law and Legal Definition | USLegal, Inc. Newsflash: Big Changes to the Wrongful Discharge From Employment Act How to Use a Progressive Discipline System | SHRM New York City Says Goodbye to At-Will Employment for the Fast Food Industry New York City Enacts Sweeping Changes to Fast-Food Industry— Progressive Discipline Rules, “Just Cause” Discharge, Predictive Scheduling, and More | Epstein Becker & Green Fast Food Workers Just Cause Job Protections From Harlem To Hollis Jurassic Unions: Two "Pro-Union" Ideas To Save Unions Could Actually Help Kill Them Off In New York City, Fast-Food Workers May Soon Have a Permanent Voice Seven Tests of Just Cause | People & Culture Clarification of "Just Cause for Discipline" Samuel Gompers Papers

Links to Articles referenced in this episode of Union Free Radio: For prior episodes of Union Free Radio, go here. Déjà Vu: With the poisonous PRO Act stalled in the U.S. Senate, the White House and union bosses appear to be turning to ‘Plan B’ and preparing a ‘slew’ of executive actions to help unions. After passing in the U.S. House of Representatives in February, the unions’ holy grail—the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (aka the PRO Act)—appears to be dying a slow death in the U.S. Senate. Just as it happened ten years ago when the hallucinogenically-named Employee Free Choice Act died in the Senate, the unions had a back-up plan (‘Plan B’). In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List explains where the PRO Act sits in Washington right now, how its being held up, as well as the unions’ ‘Plan B’ and its ramifications on business owners, human resources, as well as the 59 million independent contractors in the U.S. Opinion: Backers of Employee Free Choice Act turn to Plan B - mlive.com Sen. Mark Warner gets cakes urging him to support the PRO Act - The Washington Post Police Investigating Graffiti On GOP Rep’s Home Telling Her ‘F*** You’ And ‘Pass The Pro Act’ Punching In: Biden Union Task Force Plots Executive Actions (2) FACT SHEET: Executive Order Establishing the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment | The White House White House Labor Task Force Readies Executive Actions | HR Policy Association Hourly Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors Increases to $15.00 Starting January 30, 2022 | JDSupra Sen. Mark Kelly Is Emerging as an Obstacle to the PRO Act Go big or go home. Fresh out of our nationwide May Day actions and 750k calls, DSA is setting 1 million calls as its next big goal. Help us organize working class voters to build working class power | DSA On Twitter The PRO Act: Federal legislation that will upend America’s labor laws | State Policy Network Krystal Ball: Why the PRO Act will Make or Break the Biden Presidency - YouTube New NLRB Chair Gives Roadmap for Possible Actions Under Biden PRO Act-Pushing AFL-CIO Accused Of Bad-Faith Bargaining By Staff Union 

“There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted.” — Henry David Thoreau Not all unions are corrupt, but most unions have some people who are corrupt. Today, the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards is planning to do a “public outreach” campaign to let the public know that unions are not as corrupt as they tend to seem. That’s all well and good.  However, with the recent sentencing of two former United Auto Workers presidents to prison in the last two months, union corruption is alive and well–and, in the case of the UAW, it is union members who will be paying the price for years to come. In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List talks about the five basic types of union corruption and shares examples of each. Articles and links mentioned discussed in this episode of Union Free Radio: Disgraced ex-UAW president Jones sentenced to 28 months for theft Union Dues At Work: Another UAW Top Boss Sentenced To 28 Months As Members Pay For Corrupt Execs' Actions Union using nonunion labor to build retirement home for former president | Washington Examiner The United States Reaches a Settlement with the United Auto Workers Union to Reform the Union and End Corruption and Fraud | Department of Justice Feds indict Philadelphia union boss Johnny 'Doc' Dougherty, IBEW Local 98 Labor Leader John Dougherty of IBEW 98 Facing Federal Charges – NBC10 Philadelphia Teamsters Say Goodbye to U.S. Oversight 30 Years After Takeover Labor Racketeering: The Mafia and the Unions | Office of Justice Programs Feds: Union official sought bribes from insurance administrator exec Strong Mob Ties to 4 Big Unions Charged : U.S. Lacks Strategy to Attack Issue, President's Crime Panel Says - Los Angeles Times Union Corruption Report: Here Are All The Corrupt Union Bosses Caught In 2020 7 Completely True Events The Movie Casino Is Based On For more links and prior episodes of Union Free Radio, go here.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin All too often, employers are afraid to talk to their employees about unions. However, talking with employees about unions is NOT unlawful, as long as it is done legally and carefully. Here’s how… For many union-free employers around the nation, talking to their employees about unions can be an angst-ridden decision. However, it does not need to be. Union-Free employers DO have a legal right to talk to employees about unions, as long as they Don’t S.P.I.T.—that is, DO NOT spy on employees, make promises to employees, interrogate employees, or threaten employees. In this episode of Union Free Radio, LaborUnionReport.com editor and UFR host Peter List shares what is commonly known as the basic 'DOs & Don'ts' of engaging with employees about unions and labor law (see Legal Disclaimer below), as well as some practical pointers. Legal Disclaimer: Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Nothing on Union Free Radio should be contrued or misconstrued to constitute legal advice. All Union Free Radio listeners should consult with their attorneys. Due to various factors, including changing laws, administrative agency rulings, or court judgments, the advice given on this podcast should be viewed as informal, not formal advice. Related articles and materials in this post: DO'S & DON'TS - HOW TO TALK WITH EMPLOYEES ABOUT UNIONS Union Free Radio, Ep. 5: Here’s A Simple, Six-Step Recipe For Staying Union Free What can management do during a union campaign? What is an unfair labor practice by management?

As unions like the Teamsters continue to target Amazon, it has become increasingly clear that Unions Need Amazon More Than Amazon Workers Need A Union. 'It’s not you, it’s us…' Beyond the RWDSU’s recent debacle trying to unionize thousands of Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, it is becoming increasingly clear that unions need Amazon more than Amazon workers need unions. In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List gives context as to why unions are so threatened by Amazon and its union-free status Articles cited in this episode, as well as other resources: Union Free Radio, Ep. 2: Sorry, Joe, Unions Did NOT Build The Middle Class O'Brien-Zuckerman/Teamsters United 2021 - Posts | Facebook How to Become a Market Disruptor and Keep Your Business Alive Salaries in Alabama | PayScale U.S. Amazon Prime users 2022 | Statista Amazon Employee Benefits Amazon now has more than 1 million employees, after hiring 400,000 workers this year - The Washington Post Amazon robber baron Jeff Bezos’ abusive labor practices – Liberation News Average Hourly Rate for United Parcel Service (UPS), Inc. Employees UPS salaries: How much does UPS pay? | Indeed.com Compare Working at UPS vs Amazon | Glassdoor Covid relief bill gives $86 billion bailout to failing union pension plans Thousands of Teamsters voted against a new UPS contract. It was ratified anyway. Union drivers feel betrayed. - Chicago Tribune Amazon to raise pay for 500,000 workers. - The New York Times Amazon workers vote down Alabama union campaign - The Verge Amazon to spend $1B to boost pay for 500k operations workers by as much as $3 an hour - GeekWire The failure to unionize Amazon is the union’s own fault | Opinion

The Biden Administration's focus on helping unions organize employers has many HR professionals and small business owners looking for tips on remaining union free. Here is a simple six-step recipe. Since January, there has been a sea change in the federal government's approach to labor relations. In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List shares a simple six step recipe for remaining union free for human resource professionals, small business owners and anyone who carries the title “manager or supervisor." "None of this is rocket science," List states, "in fact, it's mostly common sense. And, if you follow this simple recipe, it should greatly diminish the chances of a union organizer gaining a toehold into your workplace." Articles and resources cited in this episode: Election Reports – FY 2020 | National Labor Relations Board Vice President Harris Meets with the Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment – YouTube Six Simple* Step-By-Step Strategies To Keep Your Workplace Union-Free Successful Union Strategies for Winning Certification Elections and First Contracts: Report to Union Participants (Part 1: Organizing Survey Results) [PDF] | NLRB Organized Labor Concedes: Employer Violations Rare in Secret Ballot Elections Voice of the Employer: A Mixed-Methods Study of Winning Messages for NLRB Elections [For Purchase] Organized Labor Concedes: Employer Violations Rare in Secret Ballot Elections Union Myths from Union Mouths

With California's passage of AB5, union-backed politicians took aim at companies like Uber and Lyft--and missed...Now, though, the 57 million Americans who make up America's 'gig economy' may ultimately pay the price with the poisonous PRO Act. Following a listener's question about the onerous 'ABC Test' contained in the poisonous PRO Act, Union Free Radio host Peter List takes listeners on a deep-dive of what the ABC Test is, and how it could devastate the 57 million Americans who comprise the 'gig economy.' Click here for past episodes of Union Free Radio. Articles cited in this episode (and other resources): Union Free Radio, Ep. 1: Five Reasons People Hate The PRO Act Survey: 80% of Freelance Writers are Concerned about The PRO Act Affecting Their Ability to Work What is the gig economy? Definition from WhatIs.com Freelancing in America: 2019 Survey - Upwork Freelancers hold generally positive attitudes towards gig economy Skilled freelancers earn more per hour than 70% of workers in US Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements -- BLS News Release How Many Uber Drivers Are There? New York Taxi Workers Defeat Uber and Lyft with Landmark Legislation - Institute for Policy Studies Ridesharing services in the U.S.- statistics & facts | Statista The Dynamex Decision: The California Supreme Court Restricts Use of Independent Contractors | Labor & Employment Law Blog AB5: Labor wins big with bill rewriting California employment law - Los Angeles Times What Freelancers Should Be Worried About in the PRO Act Vox Media to cut hundreds of freelance jobs ahead of California's AB5 California voters saved Uber and Lyft — and writers, artists and other independent workers For more links referenced in this episode, go to LaborUnionReport.com's Union Free Radio.

Today’s lack of institutional memory in our society is dangerous for employees and their employers. In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List addresses society’s general lack of knowledge about today’s unions and how it is dangerous for both employees and their employers. “Unless they work for a really crappy employer,” List states, “if employees know the truth about unions, their history and how they work, as well as the rights they already have, most will decide they don’t want a union.” “Most employees today,” List continued, “until they learn the hard way, don’t know that unions are legally allowed to overpromise in order to unionize them and legally allowed to underdeliver once they’ve succeeded in unionizing them.” Articles cited in this episode: Longshoremen’s Association Linked to Lack of Diversity, Crime, and Corruption Former UAW President Dennis Williams Sentenced To 21 Months In Prison – CBS Detroit Labor Agency Aims to Wield Its Data to Counter Anti-Union Groups White House labor task force holds first meeting to help more workers join unions White House Union Task Force Blasts Lower Wages From Anti-Union Trends Union Corruption Report: Here Are All The Corrupt Union Bosses Caught In 2020

When President Biden proclaimed recently that “unions built the middle class,” he was repeating one of unions’ biggest myths. Although unions--like a hitchiker--were along for the ride, they were not the driving force that built the middle class. In this episode of Union Free Radio, host Peter List dispels the union myth that “unions built the middle class,” by giving listeners the logic, and the data, that proves the myth false. “You know,” List states, “the bad part about blindly accepting a myth like this is that it gives unions a free pass in order to push bad bills, like the poisonous PRO Act.” Articles and sources cited: Union Myth Buster: WWII, NOT Unions, Built The Middle Class Ken Braun: Big Labor didn’t build the middle class Great Myths of the Great Depression (PDF) FDR’s Folly: How Roosevelt and His New Deal Prolonged the Great Depression Casualties of World War II | History of Western Civilization II Middle Class Definition Middle-Class Income: What Is It? The Economic Impact of World War II Recovery and reconstruction: Europe after WWII | VOX, CEPR Policy Portal Post–World War II economic expansion Great Responsibilities and New Global Power | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans Exports & Imports of Agricultural Products during the 1940s The Post World War II Boom: How America Got Into Gear – HISTORY Economic Recovery: Lessons from the Post-World War II Period | Mercatus Center The Real Reason the American Economy Boomed After World War II – The New York Times STEEL IMPORT FLOOD TIED TO ’59 STRIKE | JOC.com Overview  |  The Post War United States, 1945-1968  |  U.S. History Primary Source Timeline |  Library of Congress PolitiFact | ‘Half a truth is often a great lie’: Did Benjamin Franklin really say that?