Anti-Union Activity

Conduct Screen Labor Rights

Documented pattern of suppressing worker organizing — union-busting campaigns, retaliatory firings of organizers, mandatory anti-union meetings (captive audience), hiring union avoidance consultants, or closing facilities in response to organizing. Same escalating threshold: one incident is alarming, two is very concerning, three or more independent incidents is dispositive. The test is active interference with workers' right to organize, not simply being non-union. Recency matters — reformed labor practices should be weighed. Distinct from working_conditions (the conditions themselves) and worker_exploitation (wage/hour violations).

34 companies currently excluded under this screen

Excluded Companies (34 total)

Showing 25 of 34 companies excluded under this screen.

Ticker	Company	Reason
AKO.A	Embotelladora Andina S.A.	Embotelladora Andina S.A., the Coca-Cola franchise bottler operating across Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, has faced documented union suppression across multiple countries over an extended period. According to a 2014 submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council prepared by the Centre Europe-Tiers Monde (CETIM), the Coca-Cola bottling system in Colombia — operating under the franchise structure that includes Andina affiliates — engaged in a sustained campaign to weaken and ultimately eliminate Sinaltrainal, the food and beverage workers' union. Company internal documents referred to as "Dia D," "Plan Padrino," and "El Corrientazo," obtained by Sinaltrainal leadership, explicitly identified the union as an obstacle to reducing labor costs. Sinaltrainal's membership fell to approximately 287 affiliated workers, in part because a 2004 Ministry of Labour ruling — obtained with the company's consent — revoked the union's bylaws in a manner that barred outsourced workers from joining. Subcontracting accounted for roughly 70 percent of the over 7,000 workers involved in the company's production, and that work was routed through front companies including Atencom S.A.S., Imbera, OXXON, and FL Colombia S.A.S., which the CETIM report states were controlled by the transnational corporation itself. The arrangement allowed the company to simulate direct employment contracts while denying workers the benefits guaranteed under the collective labor agreement. The interference extended beyond administrative maneuvers. According to the CETIM submission, the company pursued repeated legal proceedings to have Sinaltrainal sections in Bogota, Girardot, Santa Marta, Cali, Villavicencio, and other cities declared illegal, including a 2012 case before the Bogota Labor Court. At least 12 union leaders were subjected to criminal charges — including allegations of vandalism, conspiracy, rebellion, and terrorism — and some received arrest warrants that the company then used as grounds for dismissal for "just cause," though they were subsequently compelled to rehire workers who were acquitted. Workers were subjected to systematic stigmatization campaigns in which management published images of union members and their families alongside accusations of criminal conduct. On December 17, 2010, police entered the Medellin bottling plant with armored vehicles to force the removal of subcontracted Sinaltrainal members who refused to move distribution vehicles. More recently, El Ciudadano reported in June 2025 that the Peonetas union at Coca-Cola Andina in Chile filed complaints of illegal dismissals and persecution following the shutdown of RETCO, the company's transport subsidiary. Union representatives stated that Embotelladora Andina used the closure of RETCO as a vehicle to dismantle union organizations, characterizing it as a strategy camouflaged behind an operational restructuring. No independent government investigation findings or company response to the Chilean allegations appear in the available record.
SBUX	Starbucks Corporation	In September 2025, a National Labor Relations Board Administrative Law Judge found that Starbucks "engaged in a scorched earth campaign and pattern of misconduct in response to union organizing at its stores across the United States," and that "despite several Board orders and dozens of ALJ decisions, Respondent's behavior continues unabated." Good Jobs First's Violation Tracker records $91.3 million in penalties against Starbucks since 2000, with $87 million attributable to employment-related offenses across 19 records; labor relations violations appear as a separate category, meaning NLRB-specific penalties sit on top of the broader wage and labor penalty record. Since Starbucks Workers United launched a nationwide unfair labor practice strike, the union has filed more than 30 new ULP charges, including 23 alleging unlawful terminations and targeted retaliation for protected activity that predated the strike. Six additional charges allege that managers illegally intimidated, interrogated, threatened, and called law enforcement on baristas who were lawfully exercising their right to strike. Starbucks has also made unilateral policy changes — including cutting hours for pro-union workers — without bargaining, generating further charges. The company has retained Littler Mendelson and Morgan Lewis, firms the Economic Policy Institute identifies as among the most sophisticated union avoidance operations in the country, and has deployed data analytics, employee surveys, and anti-union "heat maps" to suppress organizing before workers can reach a certification vote. The record does not describe a company that has occasionally navigated difficult labor disputes. It describes a company that built and maintained a nationwide suppression infrastructure, received dozens of adverse Board rulings without modifying its conduct, and earned a judicial finding that its behavior "continues unabated." No remediation of these practices, and no documented commitment to good-faith bargaining, appears in the record.
KHC	The Kraft Heinz Company	The Kraft Heinz Company has engaged in documented anti-union activity, including the use of captive audience meetings and other coercive tactics to suppress worker organizing efforts. While the company’s manufacturing and distribution workforce is largely non-union, it has employed union avoidance strategies common in the food processing sector. In a specific incident, Kraft Heinz utilized mandatory meetings to dissuade unionization. The company has also been linked to broader patterns of employer resistance to organizing drives, which are known to reduce the likelihood of successful union campaigns. This conduct aligns with documented tactics such as captive audience meetings, which are designed to intimidate and discourage workers from exercising their right to organize. Available public enforcement data does not detail recent National Labor Relations Board settlements or complaints specifically for Kraft Heinz, indicating a potential evidence gap for formal penalties. However, the documented use of coercive anti-union tactics establishes a pattern of interference with worker organizing rights.
LULU	lululemon athletica inc.	lululemon’s supply chain has been linked to multiple, independent incidents of anti-union activity at supplier facilities. In February 2025, a remediation report documented illegal firings of workers at a Lululemon supplier factory in Indonesia. The report noted management installed purple flags by the machines of workers suspected of union organizing, creating an atmosphere of surveillance and intimidation. Separately, an independent investigation in October 2020, conducted by a Fair Labor Association-affiliated firm, identified freedom of association violations at a Lululemon supplier. While the full findings are not public, the investigation was prompted by worker complaints regarding organizing rights. These incidents in the supply chain, occurring in different years and countries, indicate a pattern where facilities producing Lululemon goods have actively interfered with workers' right to organize. The company’s reliance on local laws to address forced labor, as noted in a 2023 report, further suggests a systemic approach that may fail to proactively protect organizing rights.
HON	Honeywell International Inc.	Honeywell International has a documented pattern of interfering with workers' right to organize. In 2012, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) investigated the company for alleged union-busting at a South Bend, Indiana facility, including charges that Honeywell violated its contract by laying off union employees before non-union contractors. That same year, an internal Honeywell strategy document was leaked, outlining an anti-union plan that included leveraging political connections to suppress organizing efforts. This pattern extends across decades. ViolationTracker documents a 2002 NLRB case resulting in an $86,000 penalty for labor relations violations. The recurrence of formal labor violations, from the early 2000s through the 2010s, demonstrates a systemic approach to union avoidance rather than isolated incidents.
AAPL	Apple	Apple has faced NLRB proceedings at multiple retail locations. At the World Trade Center store, the 5th Circuit reversed the NLRB's findings in July 2025, ruling that manager questioning about union sentiment and removal of union flyers were non-coercive under a neutral housekeeping policy. However, Apple retail workers at stores in Oklahoma City (June 2022) and Towson, MD (June 2022) successfully unionized despite company opposition. Apple hired Littler Mendelson, the nation's largest union-avoidance law firm. The Economic Policy Institute documented Apple among major corporations deploying anti-union campaigns. In October 2025, NLRB regional offices continued investigating ULP charges at additional Apple Store locations.
TSLA	Tesla	Tesla has maintained a consistent anti-union posture across its operations. In October 2024, the 5th Circuit vacated the NLRB's order concerning selective dress code enforcement and retaliatory firing, remanding for further proceedings — a significant procedural win for Tesla. However, CEO Elon Musk has publicly stated opposition to unionization, and no Tesla facility in the US is unionized despite organizing attempts at the Fremont plant and Buffalo Gigafactory. The UAW launched a formal organizing campaign at Tesla in 2023. NLRB regional offices continue to investigate ULP charges. The broader context: Tesla is the only major US automaker whose production workforce is entirely non-union.
HSY	Hershey Company (The)	The Hershey Company hired six union-avoidance firms to oppose an organizing drive at its Stuarts Draft, Virginia, plant in early 2022. The company created an anti-union website and held mandatory “captive audience” meetings for the plant’s approximately 1,300 workers, warning them that unionizing would subject them to leaders who “gamble” with their interests. Workers also alleged the company was illegally monitoring their in-person and online activities. The union vote ultimately failed in March 2022. This documented campaign of active interference with worker organizing constitutes a clear pattern of anti-union activity.
CTSH	COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP	Cognizant and Google were found jointly liable for NLRA violations after refusing to bargain with the Alphabet Workers Union (CWA-affiliated) representing YouTube Music content operations staff in Austin, TX. Workers voted to unionize; NLRB ruled both companies joint employers and ordered bargaining (Jan 2024). Both refused. In Mar 2024, Cognizant terminated ~40 unionized workers while they were testifying to Austin City Council about the refusal to negotiate, outsourcing the roles to India. IWGB filed legal claims. D.C. Circuit later vacated the order after Google let the Cognizant contract lapse, mooting the case.
TTWO	TAKE TWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE INC	In Nov 2025, Rockstar Games (subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive) fired 30-40 employees across UK and Canadian offices — all members of an IWGB union Discord group. The union had recruited 10% of UK staff and was approaching the threshold for statutory recognition. Rockstar claimed the firings were for leaking confidential information; the IWGB called it "the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the UK games industry." Over 200 Rockstar staff signed an open letter supporting the fired workers. IWGB is taking Rockstar to court for victimization and collective dismissal linked to trade union activity.
VMC	VULCAN MATERIALS CO	Eight Teamsters Local 104 mining vehicle operators at Vulcan Materials' Arizona quarries (the "Vulcan 8") worked under an expired CBA for over a year while the company demanded pension elimination, up to $464/month health cost increases, $2.60/hr wage cuts, reduced safety rest periods, and unlimited right to replace workers with subcontractors or autonomous vehicles. 38 Arizona state legislators wrote to Vulcan raising concerns. Workers unanimously authorized a strike in Jun 2022. NLRB case 28-CA-274764 documents unfair labor practices. Settlement reached Aug 2022 after two-year fight.
DLTR	Dollar Tree, Inc.	Dollar Tree faces NLRB case 01-CA-352204 (filed Oct 2024, Windsor CT, Region 01) alleging unlawful discharge and interference with protected concerted activities. This is part of a broader pattern: OSHA conducted 500+ inspections at Dollar Tree/Family Dollar since 2017, finding 400+ violations and proposing $13M+ in penalties. In Aug 2023 the company entered a corporate-wide OSHA settlement paying $1.35M and agreeing to systemic safety reforms across all stores. The labor environment discourages organizing through chronic understaffing and unsafe conditions.
UNH	UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC	Optum (UnitedHealth Group subsidiary) maintains an in-house anti-union team called "the People Team" that runs aggressive campaigns against organizing. In Feb 2025, 1,120 Crystal Run Healthcare workers (Optum Care) voted 2-to-1 for 1199SEIU representation despite the campaign. Optum then filed objections seeking to overturn the election, arguing it was denied the right to hold mandatory captive audience meetings — which the NLRB had ruled unlawful. The NLRB overruled Optum's objections. Multiple NLRB cases on file (21-RC-367669, 19-RC-365330).
PKG	PACKAGING CORP OF AMERICA	Packaging Corporation of America has multiple NLRB unfair labor practice cases including 27-CA-290833 (Nampa, ID, 2022), 10-CA-358232, and 27-CA-282479. OSHA cited PCA for repeated amputation hazards at its Akron plant — five repeat violations totaling $111,650 for failing lockout/tagout procedures, inadequate machine guarding, and untrained forklift operators. Over 100 OSHA violations were cited across PCA facilities in a five-year period. Pattern of unsafe conditions and suppression of worker voice through multiple ULP charges.
NXPI	NXP Semiconductors	In May 2014, NXP Semiconductors fired all 24 officers of the MWAP-affiliated union at its Cabuyao, Philippines plant during collective bargaining negotiations. The company claimed insubordination for refusing overtime on a public holiday; IndustriALL and the Asian Human Rights Commission called it union busting. A global solidarity campaign forced partial resolution: 12 workers reinstated, 12 received separation packages, and NXP agreed to 12.25% wage increases over three years plus regularization of contractual workers.
RSG	REPUBLIC SERVICES INC	Republic Services faces six NLRB unfair labor practice charges from Teamsters including retaliatory firings, refusing union representatives on-site, and failing to provide representation during disciplinary proceedings. In 2025, over 2,000 Teamsters went on strike or honored picket lines citing illegal union-busting tactics and bad faith bargaining. The company has slow-walked negotiations with 286 represented employees near its Phoenix HQ. Multiple workers report retaliatory terminations for union activity.
WSM	Williams-Sonoma, Inc.	Williams-Sonoma has hired multiple anti-union consulting firms including Cruz & Associates ($150,543 paid in 2016) and the Labor Relations Institute (LRI), one of the largest union-avoidance firms in the U.S. DOL persuader filings (LM-10/LM-20) document these engagements. The company also faces NLRB complaints for unlawful termination of workers engaged in organizing. The pattern of retaining professional persuader consultants to defeat organizing campaigns demonstrates systematic anti-union posture.
SWK	STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC	Stanley Black & Decker faces NLRB case 01-CA-284389 (New Britain, CT) and case 07-CA-361309 (Chesterfield, MI, UAW Local 771 charging party). In Feb 2026, the company announced closure of its last New Britain manufacturing plant — laying off 287 IAM-represented workers in five waves through Apr 2027. The IAM issued a formal statement on the closure. The plant produced 30M tape measures annually. Pattern of labor disputes at unionized facilities followed by closures raises retaliation concerns.
ADM	Archer-Daniels-Midland Company	Teamsters Local 916 filed unfair labor practice charges against ADM during a Feb 2023 strike at Decatur, IL. Charges alleged bad faith bargaining — company sent negotiators without authority to agree to proposals — and coercive statements promising individual benefits to discourage striking. NLRB cases 25-CA-284081 and 25-CA-284359 document Section 8(a)(5) refusal-to-bargain and 8(a)(1) coercion violations. ADM has accumulated multiple NLRB complaints across facilities over decades.
WMT	Walmart Inc.	National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found Walmart engaged in illegal union-busting activity at a California store (2024); workers attempting to organize were subject to retaliatory conduct in violation of the National Labor Relations Act; pattern consistent with documented history of systematic union suppression across US operations
TKO	TKO GROUP HOLDINGS INC	UFC and WWE classify athletes as independent contractors, blocking access to benefits, healthcare, and collective bargaining. UFC did not renew Leslie Smith's contract after she led Project Spearhead unionization effort. $375M antitrust settlement (2024) over suppressed fighter wages (~19% revenue share).
F	Ford Motor Company	Ford Motor Company has a documented history of unfair labor practices, including NLRB complaints and the landmark Supreme Court case NLRB v. Ford Motor Co. (1979). The company has faced ongoing charges of anti-union conduct and interference with worker organizing rights.
CVS	CVS Health Corporation	CVS Health has documented NLRB cases alleging unlawful surveillance of union organizing and retaliation against workers exercising labor rights. ViolationTracker records multiple labor relations violations across the company's retail and pharmacy operations.
CVX	Chevron Corporation	Chevron has faced strikes by United Steelworkers Local 5 at its Richmond, CA refinery and reports of retaliatory terminations of workers engaged in union activities at overseas operations. ViolationTracker documents multiple labor relations violations.
JBHT	HUNT J B TRANSPORT SERVICES INC	J.B. Hunt is described as a "notorious nonunion company" in an industry where Teamsters represent many workforces. NLRB cases 14-RC-160960 and 15-CA-334607 are on file. The company operates ~16,400 vehicles with ~124,000 employees, none unionized.

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