The collective bargaining agreement between the U.S. men’s national soccer team and its players’ union is silent on the issue of advertisement approvals. The players union recently asked the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm an arbitral finding that the union has the power to reject promotional materials sought by U.S. Soccer Federation sponsors.…

The collective bargaining agreement between the company and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union prohibited “picketing of any of the Company’s premises” during the term of the contract. The union had a long-standing practice of commencing informational picketing before the expiration of each previous contract. Recently, the union passed out picket signs to…

Although many controversial cases were decided by the radical pro-union NLRB between the end of 2011 and mid-2013, what follows are some of the more notable decisions that are likely no longer the law – until, at least, the current Board has the opportunity to make them law again. In Re Piedmont Gardens held that…

The Steelworkers Union filed suit against chemical distributor Brenntag Northeast, Inc. seeking medical monitoring for its members after a 2012 workers compensation ruling found that a 30-year employee had developed a progressive neurological disorder following exposure to chemicals at work. The complaint alleged that the company knew of the dangers posed by the solvent and…

A past practice is a pattern of prior conduct consistently undertaken in recurring situations to the point that it evolves into an understanding between the company and the union that the practice is the appropriate course of action. A past practice can be used to clarify ambiguous language in a contract and can be used…

The collective bargaining agreement between Reyco Granning, a commercial vehicle suspension supplier, and the Teamsters provides holiday pay to workers who work at least 8 hours on the last regularly scheduled workday prior to the holiday. The CBA further states that an exception “may be made” if an employee arrives to work late by less…