Legislative and Regulatory News for the Week of March 29, 2009

The following is a summary of the legislative and regulatory news for the week of March 29, 2009:

Agency Changes

President Obama has named J. Randolph “Randy” Babbitt to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Arbitration

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that a provision in a collective bargaining agreement that clearly and unmistakably requires union members to arbitrate their Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) claims is enforceable as a matter of federal law.

EFCA

A policy group contends that the Employee Free Choice Act’s (EFCA) mandatory arbitration provisions would amount to a government takeover of the private sector.  Meanwhile, this measure continues to lose support in the Senate.

Employee Benefits

The Healthy Workforce Act was introduced. This bill would provide employers with a tax credit for providing certain wellness programs for employees.

Labor-Management Relations

The Department of Labor (DOL) has rescinded regulations requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to post Beck notices in the workplace.

Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.