Buried deep within the infamous Project 2025, on page 600, are some startling recommendations regarding the future of the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS). OLMS, which operates under the U.S. Department of Labor, is tasked with enforcing the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) of 1959. Its responsibilities focus on promoting union democracy, advancing labor-management transparency, and protecting workers’ right to organize.
Historically, OLMS has disproportionately focused on union transparency while neglecting its obligation to hold corporations and the labor relations industry accountable, as mandated by the LMRDA. Investigations in 1984 and again this year by the Office of Inspector General confirmed this imbalance. Research by LaborLab also reveals that while unions overwhelmingly comply with the law, only a small percentage of corporations and labor consultants do the same.
Currently, OLMS is working to restore balance by addressing its neglected obligations and protecting workers’ rights. However, Project 2025 recommends that OLMS abandon these efforts and become even more lenient toward union-busting corporations. The project suggests rolling back enforcement of regulations that require employers and labor consultants to report activities affecting employee decisions about unionization or collective bargaining, essentially allowing union-busting tactics to remain hidden.
In stark contrast to its call for less regulation of corporations, Project 2025 proposes heavy-handed regulations on worker centers, further tipping the scales against workers’ rights and organizing efforts. This shift would not only enable corporations to continue union-busting in secret but also make it even harder for workers to organize and advocate for fair treatment.
Ultimately, Project 2025’s vision for OLMS would further entrench corporate power while undermining the very laws designed to protect workers.
