What is one type of employee categorized as confidential who cannot join a union?

Confidential employees are specifically categorized in a way that they have access to sensitive information, especially relating to labor relations and negotiations. This type of designation is significant because it prevents these employees from joining a union, as their roles may involve tasks that could create conflicts of interest or compromise the negotiation processes between the employer and the unionized employees.

In contrast, clerks, department heads, and public relations staff generally do not fall into this confidential category in the same manner. Clerks typically perform administrative functions without the same level of access to confidential negotiations. Department heads may have some responsibilities that could involve confidential information, but they are often in leadership roles that may be treated differently than confidential employees as a whole. Similarly, public relations staff generally focus on managing communications rather than engaging directly with labor negotiations or confidential matters. Thus, the definition and responsibilities associated with confidential employees distinctly highlight why this category cannot join a union.