Is Your Business One Complaint Away From a Union Vote? (feat. Kathy Carnes & Brian Erickson)

What does it actually take for employees to unionize, and what can business owners legally do about it? In this episode, Brian sits down with Kathy Carnes, labor-management attorney and professor at Northern Kentucky University, who has spent her entire career on both sides of the union debate. From running elections at the National Labor Relations Board to representing companies against unfair labor practice charges, Kathy brings a rare, balanced perspective that most business owners never get to hear.Kathy breaks down the real mechanics of union organizing, including what constitutes an unfair labor practice, why companies sometimes cross the line out of fear, and what the consequences look like. She shares some jaw-dropping real-world stories, like a company president surveilling a union meeting from a Subway parking lot, and a business that threatened to shut down rather than let a union win. More importantly, she explains what the research and her 20-plus years of experience consistently show: the businesses least likely to unionize are the ones that communicate openly and treat every employee with consistency and fairness.The conversation also gets into alternative dispute resolution, including the difference between binding arbitration and non-binding mediation, and how the ADR Center at NKU is training the next generation of workplace mediators. Kathy also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the 43-year-old Lumen Cheesy Labor-Management Conference, which brings union reps and company attorneys into the same room to find common ground. If you manage people, this episode will change how you think about the relationship between leadership and labor.====================Subscribe & Listen to more content here:Web: https://www.cincinnatibusinesspodcast.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGtiiP79wCZ2ALPztpr-7XWMl7uQUFRvBApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unconventional-leadership-podcast/id1378659047Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6tNE9H2cuWba5Ovnum8C===================Connect with Brian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/u/bwericksonInstagram: instagram.com/cincybizpod/TikTok: tiktok.com/@cincybizpodFacebook: facebook.com/people/Cincinnati-Business-Podcast/Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/50kMVlyZokuoLwzE2fwAmt?si=pk87NyzsQJGY6iE7OKpzmQ====================Produced by the Cincinnati Podcast StudioCreating high-quality a DIY video podcast is complicated. Cincinnati Podcast Studio simplifiesvideo podcast production so you can just show up and share your message, creating true fanswhile establishing your authority and building trust.Are you in the Greater Cincinnati area and interested in starting your own podcast?Book a Tour Today http://cincinnatipodcaststudio.com/Learn more about the Cincinnati Podcast Studio: https://cincinnatipodcaststudio.com