Protecting Employers Since 1985

COVID-19 and Unions

By Richard H. Wessels / April 14, 2020

COVID-19 is about the only subject being discussed at Wessels Sherman these days. Of course, there are some exceptions, but COVID-19 is the 800-pound gorilla! While most legal commentaries on COVID-19 focus on minutiae of legislation and regulations, for this commentary we are going to focus on practical information and solutions. And, we will do…

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Covid-19 and Refusal to Work

By Richard H. Wessels / April 2, 2020

We are receiving phone calls with increasing regularity asking about a variety of issues generally described as refusals to work. Most frequently these scenarios involve talk, but sometimes outright threats to walk off the job. There are a whole host of fact patterns here which impact a legal analysis. Is there a union contract? Is…

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Executive Summary of Shelter in Place Order

By Richard H. Wessels / March 21, 2020

Governor Pritzker’s Shelter in Place Order was announced Friday, March 20, 2020 at his press conference shortly after 3:00 pm. It was only later in the day on Friday that the full text was released. Here is an EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. The fundamental is that all individuals are to stay at home. The Order explains what…

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Model Communication to Labor Unions Regarding Covid-19

By Richard H. Wessels / March 20, 2020

For Employers who have union contrcts – below is a good model communication that has been quite helpful for our clients. You may want to consider using it as a model. To say the least, we are going through difficult times. The Covid-19 pandemic and declaration of national emergency is unprecedented in the recent history…

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Union Organizing Update

By Richard H. Wessels / February 14, 2020

In the last year or so, we have seen a distinct uptick in union organizing activity. We have represented employers in quite a number of union organizing campaigns and we are on a nice winning streak! One strategy has been helpful and I will be glad to fill you in if any of our readers…

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Operating Engineers Local 150 Remains One of Northern Illinois Most Active Unions

By Richard H. Wessels / September 27, 2019

NLRB statistics and filings often do not reveal the true activity level of Operating Engineers Local 150. Frequently, Local 150’s strategy is more focused on picketing and boycotts, rather than traditional NLRB elections. The reality is that Operating Engineers 150 is probably the most active private sector union in Northern Illinois. They are exceedingly well…

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Highlights of Labor Law Developments So Far This Year

By Richard H. Wessels / May 13, 2019

Here are some of the most news-worthy developments in labor law for the first months of 2019. Local Right to Work Laws in Illinois Now Banned Governor Pritzker on April 12, 2019, signed legislation which prohibits local governments from passing Right to Work ordinances. Right to Work laws bar employers and unions from entering into…

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Biometric Information Privacy Act-Getting Stranger And Stranger

By Richard H. Wessels / May 9, 2019

By now, every Employer in the State of Illinois is aware of the Illinois Supreme Court Decision in the Rosenbach v. Six Flaggs Entertainment Corporation and the State Supreme Court interpretation that, under the context of the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act, a Plaintiff does not need to show an “actual injury” to process a claim,…

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Breaking News: Minimum Wage in Illinois set to Increase to $15 by 2025

By Richard H. Wessels / February 15, 2019

Last week we reported that a new Illinois Minimum Wage law is all but certain to pass before the end of February. A $15 per hour minimum wage bill was introduced and had the support of newly elected governor J.B. Pritzker. The Illinois General Assembly has now passed the bill. Governor Pritzker is expected to…

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“Shame on You” Strategies

By Richard H. Wessels / February 14, 2019

Construction industry unions, particularly Operating Engineers Local 150, continue to use the strategy which we regularly refer to as “rats, banners and street theater”. They rely on the 2010 Eliason & Knuth NLRB case which gives unions pretty much a green light to engage in secondary boycotts as long as they are not picketing. That…

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