I just rewatched the episode of the U.S. version of “The Office” where the warehouse workers discuss unionizing, and Jan promptly threatens to lay everyone off and also misleads the workers about their legal fees and union dues. This is so wildly illegal I was borderline yelling at my television.
I'm old enough that I remember our attitudes toward unions in the early 2000s, and I know this was absolutely par for the course. But it still frustrates me to be transported back to that time. No wonder we all have colleagues who still view unions as “outside entities” that jeopardize their job security. I look forward to hopefully more realistic and favorable portrayals of unions following the labor movement's resurgence. Every television writer must know now — from experience — that you can't threaten unionizing workers without eventually getting hit with an unfair labor practice charge!!