• The NLRB launched a web site designed to explain the right of all employees to engage in concerted activity. The web site describes over a dozen cases where employees engaged in protected concerted activity. The web site also instructs employees to contact their nearest NLRB regional office if they wish to know whether conduct qualifies as protected concerted activity.
  • On June 19, an international organization known as the IndustriALL Global Union was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark. IndustriALL claims to represent 50 million workers across 140 countries in the mining, energy, and manufacturing sectors. The union claims to unite affiliates of several former global union federations, including the International Metalworkers’ Federation (“IMF”); the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions; and the International Textiles Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation. Jyrki Raina will serve as the union’s general secretary and Berthold Humber will be the organization’s president. Both individuals formerly served in those respective roles for the IMF. The union’s North American executive board includes R. Thomas Buffenbarger, president of the IAM, Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers, and Bob King, president of the United Auto Workers.
  • Lee Saunders was elected president of the 1.6 million member American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (“AFSCME”). Saunders succeeds well-known labor leader Gerald McEntee, who endorsed Saunders in the union election. Saunders becomes only the fourth president of the union in the last 75 years. The day before electing Saunders, AFSCME voted to decrease the compensation of the union’s president to $295,000 and the union’s secretary-treasurer to $250,750. In 2011, the union’s president made $512,369.