GOP seeks to block Labor Dept. ‘persuader rule’

Republicans are trying to block the Labor Department’s controversial “persuader rule.” 

Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) on Friday introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review Act to would permanently halt the rule.

{mosads}The Labor Department’s persuader rule, finalized in March, requires employers to report any actions, conduct or communications that are undertaken to — explicitly or implicitly, directly or indirectly — counter workers’ union organizing efforts.  

Flake and Alexander argued the rule will place costly and onerous mandates on small businesses that consult with attorneys or labor relations experts during union organizing drives.

“Eliminating this flawed rule will protect businesses from mandates designed to create an uneven playing field in favor of unions and will prevent yet another layer of economically-crushing regulatory burden on small businesses,” Flake said in a statement.

The Labor Department says the rule is needed to protect workers from common stategies employers take to halt organizing efforts.

But business groups and labor attorneys have been highly critical, arguing it will prevent employers from speaking on labor issues or seeking legal counsel.

“First, the administration fast-tracked the union election process so that employers are now walking a tightrope of legal obligations and prohibitions at hyper-speed — and now the administration wants to discourage employers from getting any legal advice while they try to do this,” Alexander said in a statement.

“The real loser will be the worker, who will be ambushed by a union election right as his or her employer is hamstrung by this rule – and the union will steamroll right over both of them.”

The Labor Department rule applies to contracts beginning July 1.