Today in Labor History Mar 15 Supreme Court approves 8-Hour Act under threat of a national strike

[Omaha Steve]

March 15

March 15, 1869 - The first amendment to grant women’s suffrage was introduced in the U.S. Congress. It would take 50 more years before women would achieve the right to vote.

Official formation of the Painters International Union - 1887



And this: March 15, 1887 - The Painters International Union was formed. Today, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades represents more than 140,000 members in the construction industry, such as Painters, Drywall Finishers, Glaziers, Floor Coverers, and Sign and Display workers. Find out more at www.iupat.org

Supreme Court approves 8-Hour Act under threat of a national railway strike - 1917

Bituminous coal miners begin nationwide strike, demanding adoption of a pension plan - 1948

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_03_15_2010

[Earth Bound Misfit]

1. K & R !

I read somewhere recently that the present clusterfuck that we lovingly refer to as the NLRB is headed to the Supreme Court in the near future. They are using two cases as "models"-- one is Laurel-Baye (something, something) and I don't recall the opposing view case that they will use to determine this nearly two year old SCREWING of the American working man...I'm referring to the present 2 member Board and the "2 out of 3 ain't bad" mess (decisions handed down by the two member board plus it's General Counsel). One court DC (Conservative) ruled that three does not constitute a qourom and blocked the hundreds if not nearly 1000 by now mostly pro-worker decisions from being implemented. The other Appelate, Chicago (liberal) ruled "don't be sad--2 out of 3 ain't bad" and upheld the present Board's interpretation that 3 members DO constitute a quorum under the NLRA's rules.

Hmmm. This should turn out real well.

Bout as well as the campaign contribution thingie recently handed down by the 5 blind mice.

Do I REALLY need to add the sarcasm emoticon?

EBM

[Earth Bound Misfit]

2. Ahhh...here it is

See here: http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Press%20Releases/2009/R-2704.pdf

Also here: http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2009/09/nlrb-asks-supre.php

NLRB asks Supreme Court to rule on decisions by 2-member board

A news release from the National Labor Relations Board, "Supreme Court is asked to settle the question of two-member rulings by the NLRB":

Washington, DC -- On behalf of the National Labor Relations Board, the Solicitor General of the United States today asked the Supreme Court to settle the question of whether the Board is authorized to issue decisions while three of its five seats remain vacant.

The request was made in two actions: a petition for certiorari in Laurel Baye Healthcare
of Lake Lanier, Inc. v. NLRB (see the petition), and a response to a certiorari petition filed by an employer in New Process Steel, LP v. NLRB (see the response).

The Board has operated with only two members since the start of 2008, when the terms for two other members expired. The current chairman, Wilma B. Liebman, and Peter C. Schaumber, a Republican, have continued to issue decisions.

In May, the D.C. Circuit found the NLRB's decision in the Laurel Bay Healthcare dispute to be invalid because two members did not constitute a quorum. (Wall Street Journal story; Blog of the Legal Times coverage.)

No surprise, the issue is deep in partisan politics....