LaborLab has filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor regarding Orchid Orthopedic Solutions in Oregon City, a medical device contract manufacturer, citing the company’s engagement in union-busting tactics to thwart unionization efforts among its 47 employees. The complaint, filed with the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), details the company’s hiring of a union-busting firm and the persuaders’ failure to comply with federal reporting requirements.
Orchid Orthopedic Solutions has reportedly employed a team of labor relations consultants from National Labor Relations Advocates to discourage workers from organizing with Teamsters Local 206. These consultants, including individuals identified as “David Tickle,” Paul Sommerville, and Jim Allen, have been conducting one-on-one meetings with employees since August 15, 2024. While the true identity of “David Tickle” is unclear, both Sommerville and Allen are with the National Labor Relations Advocates, a prominent union-busting firm.
LaborLab has obtained proposals from National Labor Relations Advocates indicating that the firm charges a hefty fee of $3,000 per day for on-site work and $375 per hour for off-site work. Given that the consultants have been on the ground since August 15th, Orchid Orthopedic Solutions has likely already spent a substantial sum to combat unionization efforts.
The complaint also alleges that “David Tickle” has not disclosed his affiliations and that both “David Tickle” and National Labor Relations Advocates have failed to file the required LM-20 form with OLMS, as mandated by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). An LM-20 is a form required by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS). It’s used to disclose agreements or arrangements between employers and individuals or organizations who undertake activities aimed at influencing employees’ decisions about unionization.
It’s also important to note that National Labor Relations Advocates has not filed any LM-21 forms for 2021, 2022, or 2023, despite having LM-20 filings that trigger the requirement, illustrating a pattern of non-disclosure and evasion from the firm. The LM-21 is a financial disclosure statement required of labor relations consultants.
LaborLab is calling on OLMS to investigate the matter and hold Orchid Orthopedic Solutions and its labor relations consultants accountable for any violations of labor law. LaborLab is also requesting that the company be required to disclose the full extent of its spending on union-busting activities.
“Orchid Orthopedic Solutions is attempting to silence the voices of its workers,” said Bob Funk, Executive Director of LaborLab. “We will not stand idly by while this company engages in such blatant union-busting tactics.”
