Dark Horse Comics: Senior Editors Reclassified as Management

• Dark Horse Comics is attempting to shrink its bargaining unit by reclassifying senior editors as management.
• The move has led to a formal challenge under federal labor law, questioning whether Dark Horse is trying to avoid union membership.
• Senior editors face demotion and a pay cut if they refuse to accept the new supervisory duties.
• The Communications Workers of America has characterized the reclassification as an attempt to shrink the number of employees eligible for the bargaining unit.

According to the union, this move is an underhanded attempt to gut its membership just as contract talks are getting underway.

Dark Horse Comics has been at the center of a labor dispute after recognizing its newly formed union, Dark Horse Workers United, two months ago. The publisher is now attempting to shrink the bargaining unit by reclassifying senior editors as management. According to the union, this move is an underhanded attempt to gut its membership just as contract talks are getting underway. Senior editors, who have never been allowed management roles and collectively represent over a century of experience at the publisher, are being given supervisory duties they never previously held. If they refuse to accept these new responsibilities, they face demotion and a pay cut.

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) determines who is excluded from union eligibility under Section 2(11). To be considered a supervisor, an employee must have the authority to hire, fire, discipline, or approve pay. Dark Horse's reclassification of senior editors as management has led to a formal challenge under federal labor law. The Communications Workers of America, the parent union of Dark Horse Workers United, has characterized the reclassification as an attempt to shrink the number of employees eligible for the bargaining unit.

This development highlights the potential for companies to reclassify employees as management to avoid union membership. The move by Dark Horse Comics is a tactic that has been formally challenged under federal labor law. Lawyers advising unions or employees should watch for similar attempts and consider filing petitions to protect union eligibility. The outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching implications for the US comics industry, where labor laws are often complex and nuanced.

This development highlights the potential for companies to reclassify employees as management to avoid union membership, a tactic that may be subject to challenge under federal labor law. Lawyers advising unions or employees should watch for similar attempts and consider filing petitions to protect union eligibility.

Source: Original reporting via Courthouse News