New NLRB rule will reduce delays to union elections
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Na-
tional Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
adopted a final rule Dec. 12 that would
alleviate the delays, inefficiencies,
abuse of process and unnecessary liti-
gation that plague the current system
for workers who want to vote on
whether to have a union. It will take ef-
fect on April 14.
“The modest but important reforms
to the representation election process
will help reduce delay in the process
and make it easier for workers to vote
on forming a union in a timely man-
ner,” said national AFL-CIO President
Richard Trumka.
Too often, lengthy and unneces-
sary litigation over minor issues bogs
down the election process and prevents
workers from getting the vote they
want, he said.
NLRB Chairman Mark Pearce said
the rule changes would modernize the
representation case process and “fulfill
the promise” of the National Labor Re-
lations Act.
“Simplifying and streamlining the
process will result in improvements for
all parties. With these changes, the
Board strives to ensure that its repre-
sentation process remains a model of
fairness and efficiency for all,” he said
The new rule:
• Provides for electronic filing and
transmission of election petitions and
other documents;
• Ensures that employees, employ-
ers and unions receive timely informa-
tion they need to understand and par-
ticipate in the representation case
process;
• Eliminates or reduces unneces-
sary litigation, duplication and delay;
• Adopts best practices and uni-
form procedures across regions;
• Requires that additional contact
information (personal telephone num-
bers and email addresses) be included
in voter lists, to the extent that infor-
mation is available to the employer, in
order to enhance a fair and free ex-
change of ideas by permitting all par-
ties to the election to communicate
with voters about the election using
modern technology; and
• Allows parties to consolidate all
election-related appeals to the board
into a single appeals process.
A similar election rule was issued in
2011 and was due to go into effect in
April 2012. But the business commu-
nity successfully argued that the board
lacked a quorum when it issued the
rule, which blocked its implementation.
Lame duck confirmation means NLRB will stay at full strength
from the
Columbia-Pacific Building &
Construction Trades Council
Willy Myers, Executive Secretary Treasurer
PAGE 4
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With
only days to spare before going into re-
cess, the U.S. Senate on Dec. 8 voted
54-40 to confirm Lauren McGarity
McFerran to the National Labor Rela-
tions Board.
The NLRB enforces the federal la-
bor law governing private sector union-
ization. It’s led by a five-member board
that’s appointed by the president and
confirmed by the Senate. But in
Obama’s first term, the Republican mi-
Robert Porter
Gil Freeland
Amy Sprengelmeyer
Craig Weismann
Al Shropshire
Bill Mehrens
Dennis Coplin
Rich Taylor
President
Vice President
Recording Secretary
Inside Guard
Business Mgr./Fin. Secretary
Asst. Business Mgr.
Director of Political Affairs
Dispatcher
Travis Argue
Dennis Mask
Pat Christensen
Mark Sundstrom
Business Agent
Business Agent
Business Agent
Business Agent
Dave Sheridan
Eric Fanning
Todd Templeton
Jim Wiens
Drew Waits
Dan Bailey
Dave Burger
Jeff McGillivray
Craig Spjut
Director of Organizing
Organizer
Organizer
Organizer
Organizer
BA/Org./Asst. Training Coord.
BA/Org./Asst. Training Coord.
BA/Org./Asst. Training Coord.
BA/Org./Asst. Training Coord.
nority used the filibuster to prevent all
of Obama’s NLRB nominees from ever
getting a confirmation vote. That meant
the president was unable to replace
members when their terms expired. His
attempt to use recess appointments to
do that was struck down by the U.S.
Supreme Court. Just before the NLRB
prepared to grind to a halt, the Senate
changed its rules, making it harder to
filibuster presidential appointments.
Obama nominated McFerran in No-
vember after withdrawing his nomina-
tion of Sharon Block. Block was one of
the NLRB members whose recess ap-
pointment was invalidated by the
Supreme Court, and Republicans took
offense at her renomination.
McFerran was deputy staff director
to the Senate’s own Committee on
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
(HELP). She replaces Nancy Shiffer, a
former attorney for the AFL-CIO,
whose term expired Dec. 16.
Kevin Dent
Rob Roby
Teresa Neely
Rick Two Bears
Executive Board
Executive Board
Executive Board
Executive Board
Pete Bakker
Frank Boyle
Harlan Eastman
Eric Fanning
Erv Garrison
Craig Harguth
Randal Nelson
Ramon Ramon
Barry Sather
Drew Waits
Exam Board
Exam Board
Exam Board
Exam Board
Exam Board
Exam Board
Exam Board
Exam Board
Exam Board
Exam Board
Clara Shropshire
Justin May
Marci Wichman
Paul Brown
Director of Training
Asst. Training Coordinator
Asst. Training Coordinator
Welding Shop Coordinator
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
DECEMBER 19, 2014