Reference no: EM132289363

A manager hears from a supervisor that a union organizing campaign is underway in his company. The manager hastily contacts his attorney. He receives the following advice:

Group 1:

1. Identify the “ring leaders” and order them to come to your office for a lengthy “discussion” with management. It is important that you make it known that you are on to their game and won’t stand for it.

2. In our experience, it usually all boils down to a matter of money. Tell employees that you’ll give them a raise if they don’t unionize. Or, if you’re really concerned, go ahead and hike their pay now.

3. If employees say that they want more “voice,” set up employee involvement teams. They can make all of the suggestions that they want and vent some steam.

4. Make sure that you don’t allow any talk about unions in the workplace. And, by all means, make certain that organizers from the union don’t put fliers on windshields in the parking lot or get anywhere near company property.

Group 2:

1. It’s a good idea to require all employees to attend weekly meetings. At these meetings, managers should remind employees of all the benefits that they have already received without a union and tell them that a union would upset the family-like atmosphere in the company.

2. Make sure that you tell employees that the union is corrupt and its leaders are in jail. It doesn’t matter whether any of that is true.

3. Tell employees that voting for a union is like voting to tax yourself. Once there is a union, everyone has to pay dues, regardless of whether they ever wanted the union.

4. It’s an extreme measure, but if necessary, fire a few of the employees who are the most pro-union. That should definitely take the steam out of the effort.

Evaluate the four items of advice given in both groups in terms of whether it is bad legal advice or good legal and explain why. If it is bad legal advice, discuss what the employer should do instead.