Within the next eight days, the National Labor Relations Board plans to vote on a crucial rule that would speed up union elections—a change that’s drawn serious opposition from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Republican politicians. Unions are very eager to see the law passed, since employers will often delay union elections until they can quash the organizing drive through intimidation or other means.
The NLRB only has three of five seats filled because of Republican obstruction in the Senate, and with two of those seats being held by Democrats, passage of the rule would seem likely. But there’s one way Republicans can stop this—and they might be on the brink of doing it.
In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that the NLRB cannot function with only two members, as it did for a brief period at the end of President Bush’s term and the beginning of President Obama’s. The Court found that two members do not constitute a quorum, and invalidated everything the NLRB did during that time. ............(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.thenation.com/blog/164773/are-republicans-about-kill-nlrb