The summer of union discontent portends a season of employer discomfort

The recent splintering of the unions of the Change to Win Coalition from the AFL-CIO has received a great deal of attention in the media. Few have watched these developments with greater interest than employers in a broad variety of employment settings. As union prospects in the manufacturing industries have dwindled, employers in the service industries such as healthcare have become especially sensitive to changes in the labor movement and the opportunities to organize. This Article explores the philosophical differences responsible for the AFL-CIO schism, the likely effect this division will have on union organizing efforts in the healthcare industry, and the negative consequences these organizing efforts could have on employee free choice within the industry. In addition, this Article outlines some of the steps healthcare employers can take to protect their ability to communicate freely and directly with their employees.