This Is Where Republicans Are Cheating Labor (Congress' Behind-the-Scenes War Against Workers)

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from David Macaray at HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-macaray/republicans-congress-unions_b_1119139.html

Anti-labor Republicans Hit Rock Bottom

___ Since the Taft-Hartley Act (1947), the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) is required to have five members on its panel, all of whom are appointed by the president. The panel usually breaks along party lines, typically with a 3-2 split in favor of the White House. In the absence of all five members, the board is still able to conduct business, so long as it has a quorum, which is a minimum three members.

But when there are fewer than three members, the board can't act. In the absence of a quorum, the board can't conduct any important business. It can't come to the aid of workers illegally discharged for union activism; it can't insist that employees be awarded back pay for overtime hours they were cheated out of; and it can't settle ULPs filed during contract negotiations, no matter how egregious. Without a minimum of three members, the board can't do much of anything.

As it stands today the NLRB consists of just three members, the bare minimum. They are Mark Pearce and Craig Becker, both Democrats ( both Obama appointees), and Brian E. Hayes, a Republican. The reason there are only three is because the Republicans in Congress have steadfastly refused to install anyone who remotely resembles a pro-union vote. In fact, Craig Becker himself is a "recess appointee" (appointed by Obama while Congress was out of session), whose term expires at the end of the year.

Given how much the Republicans despise the NLRB -- given how contemptuous they are of the 76-year-old federal institution that was created specifically to guarantee the rights of working people -- what will they do when important votes come up? With this discouraging 2-1 Democratic majority staring them in the face, how will the Republicans respond?

Answer: They will tear down the edifice. It's true. Brian E. Hayes, the lone Republican panel member, has threatened to resign . . .


read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-macaray/republicans-congress-unions_b_1119139.html

related:

Republicans Angle To Block New Union Rules
http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/11/30/republicans-aim-to-quash-new-union-rules

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2403152

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1. kick for UFCW Local 27!

29 years

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2. At-will employment is legalized DISCRIMINATION & I bet there aremore than just a few people who can

support that statement in their work experiences, especially lately.

Ergo, Republicans FEAR the NLRB like Hell!

[dotymed]

3. At will employment allows slavery.

An employee has no rights. The business can hire or fire for no reason. That means if you have been a loyal employee for 20 years and they can hire a younger, cheaper worker to do your job, they usually will. It is all about profit, fuck the people.

If you are 50 or older, find a minimum wage job if you can...they don't care.

[patrice]

4. And if you say anything about any of it to anyone, you risk your chances to get another job. nt

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5. kick

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6. .

[Oldtimeralso]

7. K & R for union solidarity!