Number of union-filed election petitions dips in FY 2016

Filed under: News |

By David Stephanides

The NLRB reported January 31 that the number of union-filed representation petitions fell to 1299 in FY 2016 (Oct. 1, 2015 to Sept. 31, 2016), down from 1490 in FY 2015. However, unions won 72 percent of the petitioned-for elections, up from 69 percent in FY 2015. Over 73,000 eligible employees voted in FY 2016, down from over 91,000 in 2015.

There were 172 decertification petitions filed over the same period, with employers winning 61 percent of the elections. In FY 2015, there were 176 decertification petitions, with employers winning 59 percent of the elections.

Representation petitions filed by employers rose to 25 in FY 2016 from 21 in FY 2015. Unions won 32 percent of the elections versus 23 percent in 2015.

Once again, it appears that the controversial revised election rules governing representation-case procedures (the “quickie” election rules), which became effective April 14, 2015, are having little impact. With the drop in union-filed petitions and the fall off in eligible voter participation, any possibility for gains evaporated.

Also reported this month, the union membership rate failed to advance in 2016. The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced January 26 that the rate was 10.7 percent in 2016, down 0.4 percent from 2015. In 2016, the number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions was 14.6 million, down 240,000 from 2015. The public-sector union membership rate (34.4 percent) was more than five times higher than the private-sector rate (6.4 percent).

Perhaps the new administration’s anticipated construction boom will advance these numbers in the unions’ favor. Indeed, labor leaders meeting with President Trump last week came away encouraged. Infrastructure improvements and pipeline construction do point to many long and short-term jobs, and labor leaders are eager to start work.

Source:: Number of union-filed election petitions dips in FY 2016

      

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