Donald Schroeder Discusses Unions and ‘Captive Audience’ Meetings

Foley & Lardner LLP Labor & Employment Partner Donald Schroeder was quoted in Law.com’s weekly “Labor of Law” newsletter, titled “Labor of Law: Union Advocates Try to Thwart ‘Captive Audience’ Meetings,” discussing recent attempts to challenge captive audience meetings.

In February 2022, organizers of a high-profile effort to unionize Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, challenged the legality of the gatherings by filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), arguing the company was violating the workers’ labor rights. Schroeder said, “unfair labor practice filings with the NLRB, which is tasked with enforcing federal labor law, are not uncommon in ‘hotly contested elections’ such as [this] one.” He continued, “This is one of those cases where the unions would hope to get a union-friendly opinion from the NLRB.”