Worker Organizing and Empowerment

2 years ago

On April 26, 2021, the Whitehouse announced the signing of an Executive Order establishing a
“White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment.” The announcement
signified a goal to “mobilize the federal government’s policies, programs, and practices to
empower workers to organize and successfully bargain with their employers.”

Why is this so significant now? We are living in an unprecedented time. It’s no secret that many
workers have exited the job market leaving an ability for those that remain to have their pick of
positions. By virtue of supply and demand, workers are in positions to negotiate with their
employers or to consider moving to other companies.

In the midst of this upheaval, win rates for unions are up, strikes are up, and approval rates for
Unions by the American public is equaling that of approval rates in the 1960’s, according to a
recent Gallup poll.

On September 7, 2022, a Press Release from the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced
a release of a digital toolkit for small businesses to assist when employers are faced with
potential organization. The toolkit was built as part of the work from the task force and is a
collaboration between the Department of Labor (DOL), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB),
and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).

Previously non-organized companies such as Starbucks, Amazon, and our very own Meow Wolf
have recently organized. Staff disengagement creates an opportunity for unionization.
However, staff disengagement can also lead to turnover, low performance, and litigation. The
recipe for retaining your staff and remaining union free is very similar. Employees who see their
company as caring about and investing in them will remain engaged. At Southwestern HR
Consulting (SWHRC) we can provide you with some of the tools to enable you to engage your
employees and help your company meet its mission, vision and values. We provide everything
from building your daily HR practices, to strategic planning facilitations, to work style
personality inventories for your staff, to mediation services and beyond. If you do find you are
facing an organizing campaign, we also have expertise related to unionization. Contact us at
SWHRC today.