The National Labor Relations Board has adopted a final rule adopting the Ambush Election rule. The rule will be published in the Federal Register on December 15, and will take effect on April 14, 2015.

According to the NLRB the rule will modernize and streamline the process for holding an election for union representation to authorize a collective barging agreement with a company.

The effect of the new rule is that the election process / timeline is cut in half and many other things are established (see below). Labor law experts predict that under the new rule the election could be held in as little as 10 days. In short this means, let’s vote and then figure out what union representation means afterward!

Something’s the final rule provides for are:
·        The electronic filing and transmission of election petitions and other documents (read e-mail). 
·        Requires employers provide personal telephone numbers and email addresses of their employees.
·        Parties will be required to consolidate all election-related appeals to the NLRB into a single appeals process after the election. So issues concerning what is the bargaining unit and who can vote are decided afterward.

More information and details will be available at the membership luncheon on January 21st in Omaha and January 27th at the Lincoln luncheon and then on February 25 at the Greater NE luncheon in Kearney. Where Kelley Ekeler, of Harding & Shultz, will be presenting "The Best of ABC National Legal Conference". She will be fully armed to explain the Ambush Election Rule along with other legal items that should be on your “short term threat radar”.

Be sure and watch for more details and seminars on this subject coming up!