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New Laws for 2016: "Labor Dispute" Exemption for Unions Removed (PA)


Recently, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed a bill into law that repealed a loophole that gave unions the right to stalk, harass, and even use a "weapon of mass destruction" if they were involved in a labor dispute in Pennsylvania, without fear of being charged with one of those three crimes.

In the past, it had been well documented that unions harassed the children and spouses of business executives with violent taunts and even death threats.  A company official involved in a labor dispute in Philadelphia said that union workers had videotaped her children at sports events and threatened to shoot her.  A company executive for another company was talked by union workers.  When she went to a restaurant, she was taunted and threatened that she would be shot. 

However, under the law at the time, these business people had no legal recourse to prevent the harassment or have those who perpetrated the crimes arrested.  In the instance of the executive who was stalked and taunted at the restaurant, her case was thrown out because of the loopholes.  In fact, the judge said "When you walk in, as a vice president of a company, to a restaurant full of union workers, you're going to hear some things you should have expected to hear."  Well true, I might expect to be taunted and have someone threaten to shoot me if I am a company executive involved in a labor dispute.  But call me crazy, but I would expect to have some legal rights if I was physically threatened.  I do not think that is asking too much...

Under this new law, employers and employees alike would be protected from these type of hostile work environment situations and threatening tactics, as the law intends that the exemptions previously in place would not apply in labor disputes. 

Unsurprisingly, the Pennsylvania chapter of the AFL-CIO has opposed the measure as anti-worker.  Yes, you read that right.  Apparently these loopholes are pro-worker, in the minds of some.


For additional information:  https://www.governor.pa.gov/governor-wolf-signs-bill-removing-exemptions-for-labor-disputes/

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