The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that labor unions and corporations are permitted to spend as much as they want on their own campaign ads to support or oppose federal political candidates will have a significant impact on employers who face union interference with their workforce.
With the unlimited flood of money that is now free to be spent in the upcoming mid-term elections, employers can expect to see increased organizing pressure from labor unions through corporate campaigns and through efforts to pass pro-union legislation. Unions will be free to put their significant financial resources into issue ads that attack perceived anti-labor companies and positions.
On the other hand, corporations are also now free to spend money on advertising in response to union pressure, and should begin to think about setting practices to combat the imminent unleashing of campaign cash by labor this election year.
Companies who are concerned about union organizing at their operations should take steps now to assess wage and benefits, address employee concerns, avoid unfair labor practice traps and determine how vulnerable their employees may be to unionization.
