Allstate Wins Ruling Barring Unionization

Allstate Corp., the insurer that’s been battling agents over its efforts to boost productivity, said the National Labor Relations Board ruled that agents can’t form a union.

The board made its ruling following a petition by the Office and Professional Employees International Union, which wanted the board to rule that Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate’s agents weren’t independent contractors under the National Labor Relations Act.

The ruling is a victory for Allstate chief Edward Liddy, who led an effort to switch agents from employees to independent contractors to reduce costs and boost productivity.