Several members of the LRI team were in attendance at the Spring 2023 CUE Conference this year. As always, it was a fantastic event filled with great information and networking on the latest developments in labor relations. We wanted to share some of our top takeaways from the conference.
1. The Current Administration’s Stance on Organized Labor
The conference highlighted the current administration’s deep inclination towards organized labor, emphasizing the importance of understanding the political landscape in labor relations. This was especially brought to light during the opening keynote discussion between John Ring and Roger King.
2. The Starbucks Case Study
This panel presented a comprehensive 20-year perspective on union organizing efforts at Starbucks, offering a rich source of insights into the company’s labor relations journey, including the surprising pre-history of the viral campaign coming out of Buffalo, such as the SPoT coffee campaign, the costly salting campaign used by Workers United, and the rest of the perfect storm confronting Starbucks to this day.
3. The Importance of Employee Choice
The panel session dealing with the rights of employees to choose whether they want to be represented by a union or not, from a US & Canadian perspective, underscored the importance of understanding the implications of making an informed choice involving union representation in the workplace.
4. The Value of Relationships
One of the key takeaways from the conference was the importance of relationships. CUE is not just a place for learning; it’s a place of belonging, a place to build great relationships, and a platform for smaller companies to access a support system. The professional networking available throughout the three-day conference was remarkable.
5. How a Union Organizes a Workplace
This session was a peek into union organizers’ methods to target a location, emotionally infiltrate a workforce, run a campaign, and achieve an NLRB election. This was one of the most valuable sessions of the conference, offering essential insider tips that every labor relations practitioner and operational supervisor should hear about.
6. The Changing Legal Landscape
The conference underscored the changing legal landscape favoring unions, making it more critical than ever for employers to enhance proactive, positive employee relations. We heard updates from several labor lawyers about developing NLRB case law, such as the increased use of neutrality agreements by David Wimmer and Bob Heary and the role of General Counsel Abruzzo in supporting union organizing efforts.
7. The Role of Digital Engagement
The conference highlighted the potential of digital engagement in labor relations. Ideas like having a CEO or HR podcast during a campaign were discussed, indicating the evolving nature of communication strategies in labor relations. Other items mentioned include texting, websites, and developing an ongoing proactive communications program.
8. The Significance of Frontline Leaders
Preparing frontline leaders, who are pivotal in the workplace, and in a campaign, was emphasized. Role-playing and video presentations were suggested as effective workplace training methods. Great simple concepts in TIPS and FLOE. (Facts ● Listen ● Opinions ● Experiences)
9. Understanding Micro Bargaining Units
The presentation by Mark Stubley on micro bargaining units was particularly informative, covering various topics, including types of units, captive audience meetings, challenging petitions, and joint employer issues.
The Spring 2023 CUE Conference was a valuable experience filled with learning, networking, and camaraderie. The insights gained will undoubtedly shape our approach to labor relations in the coming year. We look forward to the next conference and its new learnings.
