Recent filings with the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) continue to expose companies that hire “persuader” consultants (i.e. union-busters). 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.
Recent filings reveal new instances of employers retaining persuader services:
- Groff Tractor & Equipment (Mechanicsburg, PA) engaged American Labor Relations Group, Inc. on October 13, 2023, for a compensation rate of $3,250 per day. This filing is connected to a campaign involving IUOE Local 542.
- Amazon WOR (Central Point, OR) retained Viking Labor Solutions on August 27, 2025, for a compensation rate of $275 per hour.
The Role of LM-20 Filings and Persuader Tactics
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, including:
- Disseminating false and misleading information about unions and their potential impact on worker benefits.
- Employing intimidation tactics such as mandatory captive audience meetings where anti-union messages are delivered.
- Engaging in surveillance, monitoring union activity, and targeting pro-union employees.
- Conducting one-on-one meetings and collecting personal employee information that can be leveraged against organizing workers.
