EP 125: Tracking the Millions Spent to Keep Nurses Voiceless with Labor Lab!

In this eye-opening episode, Nurse Erica sits down with Bob Funk, creator of LaborLab, the only nonprofit watchdog organization tracking corporate spending on union-busting. Bob pulls back the curtain on the multi-million dollar industry dedicated to keeping healthcare workers from organizing, revealing how hospitals and healthcare systems spend millions of dollars on union-busting consultants. They explore LaborLab's union-buster tracker and discuss the common tactics employers use to discourage nurses from organizing, from captive audience meetings to intimidation and retaliation. Bob explains the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 and how the LM-20 forms are supposed to work—along with the troubling reality that many employers and union-busters simply don't comply with legally required financial reporting. The conversation dives into the "persuader loophole" that allows consultants to hide their anti-union activities and discuss why the PRO Act matters for nursing. They don't shy away from the controversial topic of scab nurses and the damage strike-breaking causes to both patient care and the profession. Whether you're curious about organizing, already involved in union efforts, or just want to understand the forces working against nurses' collective power, this episode is essential listening!

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Support the Show: Help keep Nurses Uncorked going and become an official Patron! Gain early access to episodes, exclusive bonus content, giveaways, Zoom parties, shout-outs, and much more. Become a Wine Cork, Wine Bottle, Decanter, Grand Preserve, or even a Vineyard Member: https://patron.podbean.com/nursesuncorkedpodcast ETSY Shop: Stop Healthcare Worker Violence! https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheNurseErica Labor Lab: https://laborlab.us/ https://www.tiktok.com/@laborlab.us https://www.instagram.com/laborlab_us/?hl=en https://x.com/LaborLabUS Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:40 Testifying Before House of Representatives 08:00 Employer Reporting Noncompliance 11:50 Persuader Loophole 14:50 Labor Lab 17:27 Union Buster Tracker 19:00 Common Union Busting Tactics 24:50 Captive Audience Meetings 28:14 Legal Protections 35:37 Union Busters 45:00 Breaking Down LM-20 Disclosure Forms 48:30 Pitfalls of Union Organizing 53:30 National Labor Relations Board 57:49 The PROAct 1:00:12 Healthcare System Consolidations 1:01:40 Nursing Strikes 1:05:25 Strike Insurance 1:10:55 Scabs Damage the Profession 1:27:49 Conclusion Help the podcast grow by giving episodes a like, download, follow and a 5 ️ star rating! Please follow Nurses Uncorked at: tiktok.com/nurses-uncorked https://youtube.com/@NursesUncorkedL

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