Posted on 08/27/2011 1:47:57 PM PDT by jazusamo
The departing chairwoman of the National Labor Relations Board won praise from the nation’s biggest labor group Saturday as she leaves a panel that’s facing key vacancies and an uncertain future.
NLRB Chairwoman Wilma B. Liebman’s leaves the board after her term ends at midnight Saturday. She has served on the body for nearly 14 years after an initial appointment under President Bill Clinton.
The White House has designated NLRB member Mark Gaston Pearce to replace Liebman as chairman.
In addition to Liebman’s tenure ending, NLRB member Craig Becker’s term expires at the end of the year. Without new people to fill those seats, the five-member board will be down to just two – not enough to have the legal authority to issue decisions, due to a 2010 Supreme Court ruling.
The NLRB, an independent agency, has become a target for conservatives and business groups attacking what they see as pro-union overreach by the Obama administration, and GOP senators have threatened to block future nominations to the labor board.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka praised Liebman on her final day, stating that she has displayed an “unwavering commitment” to enforcing labor laws.
“She worked hard during a time of widespread political divisiveness to ensure that our labor laws work for today’s working families,” Trumka said. “For good reason, she is the third-longest serving member in the NLRB’s history, having been nominated to serve by presidents of both political parties.”
But an anti-union group called the Workplace Fairness Institute wasn’t so kind.
“With Chairman Liebman’s term ending tonight at midnight, board members and their staffs are undoubtedly busy today finalizing decisions for issuance that will continue to undermine worker rights, hurt small businesses, augment the power of union bosses and cost our nation jobs,” said Fred Wszolek, a spokesman for the group.
The NLRB on Thursday issued final rules that require employers to post notices informing workers of their right to unionize under the National Labor Relations Act.
“The notice . . . states that employees have the right to act together to improve wages and working conditions, to form, join and assist a union, to bargain collectively with their employer, and to refrain from any of these activities,” states an NLRB summary.
The rules drew quick attacks from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which called them “part of the NLRB's continuing pattern of tipping the scales in favor of unions.”
They better follow through with that and gut the union controlled NLRB.
Nikki Haley Responds to the NLRB’s Mandate to Post Union Notices
Trumpka for NLRB Chair!
Wouldn’t be a surprise with Zer0 in the WH.
The NRLB should be defunded milliseconds before the BATFE.
Simultaneously defend the NLRB (Now Labor Raping Business), DEA (Drunk Every Afternoon), and the BATFags.
I don’t know why Republican candidates don’t campaign on these issues. These agencies are only popular among the thugs that work for them and their immediate families.
And take steps to block a recess appointment
Agreed. I hope the House keeps doing what they just started and shut down all his recess appointments.
And for your acronyms, Bad Attitud Toward Freedom Exercisors.
That’s a good acronym for them, but I prefer BATFags. Of course I meant defund. Sorry, I mostly post from my iPhone and the predictive test inserts the wrong word sometimes. I think all of the alphabet agencies should be eliminated.
Excellent, Thanks!
Craig Decker was not confirmed by the Dem controlled Senate. The House should clip his wings and that of the Board before they do anymore damage. The entire board is a joke.
Since the Senate cannot recess unless the House agrees, freshman Republicans are holding pro forma sessions to ensure Obama cannot make recess appointments.
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