Last month, environmental service employees at Henry Ford Health in Dearborn, Michigan, filed a petition for a union election. In response, Henry Ford Health has hired Edward “Eddie” Smith, a union-busting consultant, to undermine the workers’ organizing efforts.
Henry Ford Health, a major not-for-profit healthcare system in Michigan, is headquartered in Detroit. Environmental service employees at the health system are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of facilities, ensuring safe environment for patients and staff.
According to reports, Smith appeared on-site on December 10, 2024. Under federal law, “persuader” consultants like Smith are required to publicly disclose how much they are being paid by employers to combat unionization efforts. They must file this information on a Form LM-20 with the U.S. Department of Labor.
However, LaborLab’s investigation revealed that Smith has a history of non-compliance with disclosure requirements. His sole disclosure to date was both late and incomplete, failing to disclose the terms, conditions, and compensation he received from his previous client, Corewell Health.
LaborLab has urged the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) to investigate Smith’s actions and ensure that he complies with federal law by filing a complete and timely LM-20 for the Henry Ford Health campaign.
While the exact amount Smith is being paid by Henry Ford Health is unknown, union-busting consultants typically earn significant sums, often ranging from hundreds of dollars an hour to thousands of dollars per day. In contrast, environmental service employees at Henry Ford Health typically earn around $17 – $18 per hour.
Furthermore, as a recipient of federal funds, Henry Ford Health may be violating the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 31.205-21, which prohibits federal contractors from using taxpayer dollars to hire union-busting consultants. An investigation by the appropriate federal agency’s Inspector General could determine whether the health system has violated this regulation.
