LUBBOCK, Texas -
The Texas attorney general is throwing his support behind a lawsuit the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce has filed against the United States Department of Labor.
Ken Paxton says the department's "persuader rule" violates attorney-client confidentiality.
"If you don't have confidentiality, people will not seek legal advice," Paxton said. "If they think it's going to be disclosed, they'll be afraid to go talk to an attorney and therefore they're going to be less likely to know the law, and they're going to be less likely to follow the law."
The lawsuit challenges new reporting requirements under that rule.
The Chamber's attorney, Fernando Bustos, says the change takes away attorney-client privilege when businesses face union-organizing drives.
"Clients need to know that their communications with their lawyer are going to be held in confidence and secret so they can get good legal advice and know what their options are so they can comply with the law," Bustos said. "Without that, there is no effective attorney-client representation."
The Chamber filed the suit last month, along with the National Federation of Independent Business, the Texas Association of Business, the National Association of Home Builders and the Texas Association of Builders.
