Texas Judge Blocks Obama’s Union-Buster Disclosure Rule

More than 70 percent of companies facing union-organizing campaigns bring in consultants to help them figure out how to respond, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The consultants craft talking points for managers to use in discussions with workers. Typically, the workers aren’t told that their supervisors have been professionally coached.

In March the Obama administration moved to change that with regulations requiring employers to disclose such consulting contracts. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez says the change would help level the playing field for unions, which are legally required to report their organizing expenditures. In a statement at the time, Perez said, “Workers should know who is behind an anti-union message. It’s a matter of basic fairness.”