In a decision that may extend to other state and federal courts, the National Labor Relations Board, and to labor arbitrations, Alaska’s Supreme Court became the first state or federal court to recognize an implied statutory privilege for union-employee communications during a disciplinary or grievance proceeding to block questioning about them. Comparable to confidential attorney-client communications, the privilege extends to confidential communications between an employee or the employee’s attorney and union representatives acting in their official capacity. The communications must also relate to anticipated or ongoing disciplinary or grievance proceedings.Continue Reading Alaska First State to Recognize Union-Employee Privilege in Communications