Tim O’Connell Quoted on Likelihood of Continued Extensive Union Organizing in 2023

In a recent article, Tim O’Connell offers his insights to Law360 on the factors driving extensive worker organizing activity and why he expects it to continue through 2023.

The National Labor Relations Board reported that it saw a 53% increase in the number of union representation petitions it received for fiscal year 2022 compared to the number it received for fiscal 2021.

“I think it’s fair to say that many of the things that were driving that increase have not stopped,” labor & employment partner O’Connell said, pointing to factors such as ongoing labor shortages, workplace safety concerns, and inflation stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

O’Connell said also that he believes successful organizing efforts at several hundred Starbucks stores since December 2021 are “going to inspire others,” in particular in similar high-turnover sectors like retail, in which workers at big box stores and single stores can form relatively small bargaining units.

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