Hi everyone,
If you missed the December LRI Client Update, here’s a quick snapshot summary for you:
🔹 Petitions and Elections - Total representation petitions are down 22% year over year (Jan 1–Dec 17).
- Elections are down 29% over the same period.
- A sharp spike followed the NLRB reopening, but overall volumes remain below 2022–2023 levels.
🔹 Who’s Filing Since Reopening - RC petitions dominate, followed by RD and RM filings.
- Teamsters lead all unions in post-reopening petitions, followed by Electrical Workers, Service Employees, Machinists, and UFCW.
- Despite some large filings, most petitions continue to come from units of 25 employees or fewer.
🔹 Starbucks Update - Strikes began on November 13 at 65 stores and reportedly have expanded to 180 locations.
- Starbucks reports no material operational impact, with 99% of U.S. stores open and Red Cup Day setting sales records.
- Arrests occurred at distribution centers in York, PA, and Minden, NV.
- No Starbucks RC or RM petitions were filed in December 2025.
🔹 State “Captive Audience” Laws - A federal injunction blocks California’s law.
- Minnesota’s law remains in effect due to a lack of standing to challenge.
- New Jersey expanded its law, effective December 2, to broaden what qualifies as “political” speech to include union messaging.
- Multiple other states have laws on the books, but enforcement remains uneven.
🔹 NLRB Status - James Murphy and Scott Mayer confirmed to the Board, and Crystal Carey confirmed as General Counsel shortly after the update ended.
🔹 Mini-NLRA Laws - Amazon secured a federal injunction blocking New York’s law.
- The NLRB has filed suit against both New York and California on federal preemption grounds.
- A similar Massachusetts proposal remains pending.
🔹 Volkswagen Chattanooga - Workers are gathering signatures for a decertification petition after the UAW declined to allow a vote on the company’s final offer.
- The offer includes a 20% wage increase over four years, a $4,000 bonus, a first-ever COLA, and profit sharing.
- Strike authorization is in place, but no strike date has been set.
🔹 Courts and the NLRB - Circuit courts are split on expanded remedies, Cemex bargaining orders, and the Board’s structure.
- The Supreme Court has not yet intervened, but a future review remains possible.
Next NLRB Campaign Update and Experience Share:
Thursday, January 15, 2026 | 3:00 – 4:00 pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/232731069
As always, we’ll continue to track what the data shows, not just what the headlines claim.
Stay sharp,
Phil Wilson & the LRI Team 📞 800-888-9115 | www.LRIONLINE.com
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