Labor Leaders Press Trump Administration on Union-Busting Consultants’ and Corporations’ Compliance with Federal Law

Labor Leaders Press Trump Administration on Union-Busting Consultants' and Corporations' Compliance with Federal Law

WASHINGTON - Today, House labor leaders demanded information from Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) Director Elisabeth Messenger on whether corporations and their union-busting consultants comply with federal transparency requirements.

The letter was sent by House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and Education and Workforce Member Rep. Summer L. Lee (PA-12).

Too often, when workers exercise their right to organize a union, corporations and bosses hire outside consultants to wage anti-union campaigns. Over the last several decades, union-avoidance has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. The latest analysis found that companies spend approximately $1.7 billion every year, including nearly $500 million on union-busting consultants, to break their organizing drives. Some consultants are reportedly paid $500 per hour or $4,000 per day for their services.

Under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), employers and consultants are required to file public reports about their matter because it allows workers to see how much their bosses are spending to influence their decision to unionize. However, for decades, employers and union-busting consultants have routinely failed to meet this requirement, allowing bosses and their consultants to operate in the shadows. Under the Trump Administration, the problem is only becoming worse. A recent watchdog report found that, as of August 8, 2026, nearly 60 percent of employers required to file a disclosure in 2025 have still not submitted their reports-the largest year-over-year decline on record.

"Over the last several years, while worker organizing has skyrocketed, employers have increasingly responded with hostile anti-union campaigns, including by hiring well-compensated outside consultants. As more employers seek to quash their workers' unionization drives, it is imperative that employer and consultant disclosure requirements under the LMRDA are robustly enforced by OLMS, so workers have a complete picture of who is attempting to influence their decision as they exercise their right to organize," wrote the Members.

To determine whether OLMS is effectively carrying out its responsibility to enforce the LMRDA, the Members requested a response to their extensive questions by no later than November 16, 2026.

To read the full letter to OLMS Director Elisabeth Messenger, click here.

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