Employment Law Update: White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment Activated to Promote Union Access to Employees

5.20.2021

On April 26, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment (“the Task Force”) to encourage worker organizing and collective bargaining, and to promote equality of bargaining power between employers and employees.  Vice President Kamala Harris will chair the Task Force and Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh will serve as Vice Chair.  In addition, more than 20 government officials and heads of departments will serve as members. 

The Task Force’s Objectives

The Task Force has four main goals:

  • Lead by example. The Task Force will put into practice policies and procedures that will make the federal government a model of worker organization and collective bargaining.
  • Facilitate worker organizing across the country. The Task Force will utilize the power of the federal government to put into place policies and practices to encourage employee organization and collective bargaining.
  • Increase worker power in underserved communities. The Task Force will brainstorm solutions to the challenges faced in organizing unions by women and people of color, those who work in states with restrictive labor laws (such as Right to Work states), and those who work in certain industries that have been historically hostile to unionization.
  • Increase Union Membership. The Task Force will attempt to increase unionization throughout the United States to “grow a more inclusive middle class and provide workers the opportunity to come together for the purpose of mutual advancement, the dignity of worker and workers, respect, and the fair compensation they deserve.”

Change from the Trump Administration

The endorsement by the Biden Administration to endorse the Protecting the Right to Organize Act and other labor law reform bills is a dramatic change from President Trump’s administration, which had issued Executive Orders that attempted to reduce unionization activity and bargaining rights for federal employees. In 2021, President Biden revoked those Executive Orders.

The Task Force will make statutory and regulatory recommendations to help employees to organize and bargain collectively, so employers should expect to see new legislation and regulation later this year.  The first recommendations of The Task Force are to be delivered within 180 days. 

TAKEAWAY:  Employers should prepare for increased unionization efforts by their workforces.

If you are an employer and need help navigating the laws regarding employee organization, or any other employment laws, contact Stephanie Gironda or any member of the Wilentz Employment Law Team.

BLOG DISCLAIMER

The postings on this blog were created for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or a solicitation to provide legal services.  Although we attempt to ensure that the postings are complete, accurate, and current as of the time of publication, we assume no responsibility for their completeness, accuracy, or timeliness.  The information in this blog is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship.  Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel.

This blog may contain links to independent third party websites and services, including social media. We provide these links for your convenience, and you access them at your own risk.  We have no control over and do not monitor the content or policies (including privacy policies) of these third-party websites and have no responsibility for, and no liability with respect to, their content, accuracy, or reliability.  Unless expressly stated, we do not endorse any of the linked websites or any product, service, or publication referenced herein or therein.  We will remove a link to any site from this blog upon request of the linked entity.

We grant permission to readers to link to this blog so long as this blog is not misrepresented. This site is not sponsored or associated with any other site unless so identified.

If you wish for Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., to consider representing you, please obtain contact information from the Contact Us area of this blog or go to the firm’s website at www.wilentz.com.  One of our lawyers will be happy to discuss the possibility of representation with you. However, the authors of Wilentz blogs are licensed only in New Jersey and/or New York and do not wish to represent anyone who viewed this site in a state where the site fails to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state.

Thank you for your interest in Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A.’s legal blogs. You will receive an email sent to the address entered in order to confirm your subscription. Please watch for it and click the link to confirm your subscription.