How communicators should respond to (and prepare for) employee unionization efforts
Amid a surge in employee unionization efforts, comms pros can set a smoother path down an often-bumpy road by educating themselves on regulations and pitfalls.
Now well into its second month, the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike marches on, prompting increasingly complex discussions surrounding the future of work, labor unions and writing as a career.
But the WGA’s movement is only one facet of a massive surge in labor activism over the past year and a half, and across industries: Starbucks, Amazon, Trader Joe’s and Chipotle are among the major brands that navigated organizing drives in 2022.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reported a 53% increase in union representation petitions in 2022 vs. 2021, and a 16% increase over 2022 in the first six months of 2023. During the same period, unfair labor practice (ULP) charge filings saw a YOY increase of 16%.
In short, unionization is on the rise—and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
Internal communications professionals can prepare themselves for conversations with staffers seeking to unionize or take union action with the following steps.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
