On December 21, 2010, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proposed a new rule that would require employers to notify workers of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), including the right to unionize. According to the NLRB, the purpose of the proposed rule is "to increase knowledge of the NLRA among employees, to better enable the exercise of rights under the statute, and to promote statutory compliance by employers and unions." As proposed, the rule applies to private-sector employers subject to the NLRA (which excludes agricultural, railroad and airline employers).

The proposed rule seeks to obligate covered employers to post notices regarding NLRA rights either at a conspicuous location in the workplace or electronically if the employer customarily communicates with workers through electronic means. The notice would be similar in content and design to the notice of NLRA rights, available here, that must be posted by federal contractors under current Department of Labor rules.

The NLRB is inviting public comments on all aspects of the proposed rule through February 22, 2011. Only comments submitted online, hand-delivered or mailed will be accepted. Address your mailed comment to:

Lester A. Heltzer
Executive Secretary, National Labor Relations Board
1099 14th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20570

Go here to submit your comment online. Select "Proposed Rule" in the "Select Document Type" dropdown menu, type the proposed rule number (3142-AA07) into the "Enter Keyword or ID" field and then click on "Submit a Comment" within the "Actions" column.