An interesting article in The National Law Review examines the current Ebola scare sweeping the country and the ways in which it can potentially affect labor relations. Many of the workplaces with the potential for employees to come into contact with infected persons or material, including health care providers, cleaning services, waste disposal firms, ambulance and other transportation services, among others, are unionized, and these unions have begun to seek greater protection for their members.  Non-union employers may be affected as well, as at least one group of non-union employees has engaged in a strike to protest inadequate safety measures.

An important step all employers can take, whether unionized or not, is to share information disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and other public health agencies to educate their employees. Because an information gap is often what fuels fear, sharing accurate, up-to-date information should help address many employee concerns and avoid potential workplace disruptions based on unfounded fears.

You can read more here: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/ebola-and-potential-labor-relations-issues