Obama Persuader Rule on Union Advice Formally Axed

The Trump Labor Department has officially killed an Obama-era rule requiring expanded disclosure of employers’ use of union-avoidance consultants.

By issuing a final rule July 17 to rescind the “persuader rule,” the DOL concludes a contentious regulatory and litigation history that occupied much of the Obama administration. The rule was shot down by a federal judge before it took effect, a factor that influenced the current administration’s decision to change course.

The regulation issued in 2016 would have required employers to disclose information about the third-party labor relations consultants, or “persuaders,” they hire to help craft messaging intended to dissuade ...