The Workers Wanted A Union. Then The Mysterious Men Showed Up.

How a pair of “union avoidance” consultants using fake names turned a small Midwestern workplace upside down.

Inside Corporate America's Favorite Union-Busting Firm

The Labor Relations Institute links employers up with the “persuaders” who go to great lengths to thwart union organizing campaigns.

When Immigrants Try To Organize, Their Employers Know Who To Call

Documents reveal some of the tactics deployed specifically against immigrant workers during organizing campaigns.

Why Some Former Union Employees Become Union Busters

“I’m a traitor, right?” said one former Teamster official who is now an anti-union consultant.

Why We Know So Little About The U.S. ‘Union-Busting’ Industry

Weak disclosure rules have helped keep anti-union consulting and legal work in the shadows.

Every week, American employers hire labor consultants to prevent their workers from organizing. Known legally as “persuaders,” these consultants play a crucial role in keeping U.S. union membership near a historic low — and they are well rewarded for their efforts. Many now earn more than $2,000 per day. HuffPost has produced a series of stories revealing who these consultants are, where they come from and what they do. The reporting is based primarily on documents obtained through dozens of public record requests. We hope these stories shed light on a trade that’s plied primarily in the shadows but impacts workplaces around the country.

George Zornick Senior Editor, National Desk Ani Vrabel Deputy Editor, National Desk Dave Jamieson Senior Reporter, National Desk

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