LaborLab has revealed that Presbyterian Healthcare Services hired union busting consultants last year to coerce doctors and nurses into opposing a unionization effort. Workers have a legal and fundamental right to unionize, but weak labor laws often allow for fierce employer resistance to that right.
According to documents reviewed by LaborLab, Presbyterian Healthcare Services hired The Labor Pros, a notorious union busting consulting firm based in Florida. The same firm was also retained by Amazon for its union busting efforts. The Labor Pros brought in another anti-union persuasion firm called Culture Built to assist in the union busting efforts.
The Labor Pros reported to the US Department of Labor that it was paid $211,485. That's nearly 15% of what The Labor Pros brought in in 2022, where they made a total of $1,429,990 in union busting.
To make matters worse, Presbyterian Healthcare Services retained Jackson Lewis as its legal counsel. Jackson Lewis is a law firm known for its aggressive tactics in helping employers resist unionization efforts and fight labor disputes, earning a reputation as one of the worst union busting law firms in the United States.
It is essential to protect workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain. The use of union busting consultants undermines the democratic process and leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation. Employers must respect the rights of workers to unionize and bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
LaborLab is calling on policymakers to strengthen labor laws and crack down on union busting consultants. The voices of workers must be heard, and their rights protected.
Published May 1, 2023