Change in parking lot rules during campaign

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Weight: 124 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0745-4880
• DOI: 10.1002/mare.4080210107

✦ Synopsis

While most companies are aware that changes in wages and benefits, during the time when a union is attempting to organize, are unfair labor practices, many may not be aware that even minor changes in relatively obscure conditions of employment can also be illegal.

In one recent case, during a union campaign, a company implemented a new policy allowing production employees to park on a first-come, first-served basis in a parking lot that had been previously reserved for managers, supervisors, and office staff. The union charged that the changed parking rules were an unfair labor practice.

The employer argued that the changed policy was minor and affected very few employees. However, the Board ruled that the new parking policy was a benefit conferred by the company in the hope of influencing the union election.