There was an interesting post in The New York Times today about labor unions’ use of social media to better inform members on negotiations, solicit ideas and also to rebut rumors. To be sure, unions are also using Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other digital connections to build momentum for organizing attempts as well.
As unions embrace technology, so must employers. Here are several initial thoughts to consider:
Better monitoring. As unions conduct more digitial dialogue , the ability for companies to monitor those discussions becomes easier. Comprehensive online monitoring systems will probably be a better indicator of a union’s demands than the “watercooler talk” checks of the past. This should eliminate some surprises if there is a rift with the union.