Recent filings with the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) continue to expose companies engaging “persuader” consultants. These LM-20 forms are a crucial mechanism for transparency, required when employers enlist outside labor relations consultants to influence employees regarding their rights to organize and bargain collectively.
This week’s filings reveal several new instances of employers retaining persuader services:
- Lux Bus America (San Jose, CA) engaged The TAG Group on September 4, 2024, with a filing received on August 5, 2025, which is a late filing. This agreement was for persuader services in a campaign involving Teamsters Local 853. The union lost the election with 22 votes for and 23 against. The LM-20 form was filed after the tally was announced.
- Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. (Wisconsin Rapids, WI) retained LRI Consulting Services, Inc. on July 7, 2025, at a rate of $425 per hour. This filing, received on August 5, 2025, came after the union (IBEW Local 965) won the election on July 25, 2025, with 14 votes for and 1 against. This is another instance of a late filing.
- Darigold, Inc. (Seattle, WA) has enlisted David Grimm Payne & Marra on July 1, 2025, for $440 per hour. The filing was received on August 5, 2025, and involved workers organizing with IUOE Local 280. The NLRB case is now “closed.”
- Concord Hospital (Concord, NH) engaged Bardi Education Services on July 8, 2025. This filing, received on August 7, 2025, involved workers organizing with SEIU Local 1984.
The filing of LM-20 forms provides transparency into employer-consultant agreements aimed at influencing employees’ decisions regarding union representation. The U.S. Department of Labor mandates these disclosures to ensure workers are aware when outside parties are involved in their workplace’s labor discussions. Unfortunately, the labor relations industry’s compliance with these transparency rules is low, and enforcement needs significant improvement.
Anti-union “persuaders” can significantly impact the outcome of unionization drives. These consultants employ a range of tactics to thwart union organizing efforts. These tactics include disseminating false and misleading information about unions and their potential impact on worker benefits. They also employ intimidation tactics such as mandatory captive audience meetings where anti-union messages are delivered. Furthermore, persuaders may engage in surveillance, monitoring union activity and targeting pro-union employees, while also following workers, conducting one-on-one meetings, and collecting personal employee information that can be leveraged against organizing workers.
This information was collected by LaborLab, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering working families. Rooted in educating workers about their organizing rights, LaborLab’s mission is to help workers build power by ensuring accountability and transparency from employers and the labor relations industry.
