Remain Union-Free

Key Points

  • An employer may engage in several employee relations practices to prevent a union from gaining employee support. The most important practices are for the employer to clearly present its view against unionization in a union-avoidance position statement and forge a relationship of fairness and consistency with its employees.
  • An employer can use its employee handbook and policies to foster a sense of trust and certainty in employees of the organization and its employee practices. In addition, they can be used to communicate an employer's positions on union-avoidance, the solicitation or distribution of union materials on employer property and the use of email and social media for union activity.
  • Other strategies that help avoid unionization by strengthening relations with employees include having an open door management policy, regularly recognizing employee accomplishments and establishing peer review boards for suspensions and terminations.

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