House Committee Holds Hearing on Proposed Legislation to Roll Back/Block NLRB Actions

On October 12, 2011, the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing on the proposed “Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act” (H.R.3094) recently introduced by Republicans.  The purpose of the legislation is to the proposed legislation is to roll back some recent decisions of the National Labor Relations Board and block its proposed rule that would speed up the representation election process.  Specifically, H.R. 3094 would:

●Provide employers at least 14 days to prepare their case to present before a NLRB election hearing officer and an opportunity to raise additional concerns throughout the hearing process up to the close of the hearing.

●Provide that no NLRB representation election will be held in less than 35 days after filing of the petition.

●Reinstates the traditional standard for determining which employees will be eligible to vote in the union election.

●Provides that once an election is directed, eligible voters in the election must select in writing what sort of personal contact information they want released to the petitioning union in addition to their name, i.e., telephone number, email address, or mailing address.

Witnesses testifying were: attorney Charles Cohen, a Republican and former Member of the National Labor Relations Board, Robert Sullivan, President of R.G. Sullivan Consulting, on behalf of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, attorneys Michael J. Hunter, who represents unions, and Phillip B. Russell, who represents employers. 

The proposed legislation may pass the House, but most certainly cannot pass in the Senate at this point in time.

Legislation Proposed to Curb/Roll Back Recent NLRB Actions

By Edwin S. Hopson

On October 5, 2011,Congressman John Kline(R-MN), the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, announced that he had introduced H.R. 3094 entitled, the “Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act.”  The proposed legislation is meant to curb/roll back some recent decisions and actions of the National Labor Relations Board including its proposal to speed up the representation election process.  According to a press release issued October 5, 2011, the proposed legislation would:

 ●Provide employers at least 14 days to prepare their case to present before a NLRB election hearing officer and an opportunity to raise additional concerns throughout the hearing process up to the close of the hearing.

 ●Provide that no NLRB representation election will be held in less than 35 days after filing of the petition.

 ●Reinstates the traditional standard for determining which employees will be eligible to vote in the union election.

 ●Provides that once an election is directed, eligible voters in the election must select in writing what sort of personal contact information they want released to the petitioning union in addition to their name, i.e., telephone number, email address, or mailing address.

Original cosponsors of H.R. 3094 include: Representatives Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Phil Roe (R-TN), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Todd Rokita (R-IN), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Trey Gowdy (R-SC), Martha Roby (R-AL), Dennis Ross (R-FL), and Mike Kelly (R-PA).

A hearing by the committee on the measure will take place on October 12, 2011.