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PA Chamber slams NLRB's latest pro-labor proposal
Seeks withdrawal of measure that hurts employers, employees by limiting union election time frame
The PA Chamber is weighing in on the National Labor Relations Board’s continued attempts to advance organized labor’s policy agenda through the regulatory process, calling “unjustified and unnecessary” NLRB’s latest proposed rulemaking to shorten the time between the filing of a union election petition and the actual election date. The rule seems to allot only an average of 10 days to 14 days between the petition and election – a substantial decrease from the current, efficient 38-day median. In a recent letter to the NLRB, PA Chamber President Floyd Warner expressed concern about the clear benefit to unions in the proposed rules, since employers would be denied the appropriate time frame to verbalize to employees their perspective on unionization. The PA Chamber argued that it is unreasonable to expect that in as little as 10 days, employers can fully understand the legal process; meet new accelerated requirements to form a position statement and acquire employee lists; instruct managers on legal “do’s and don’ts;” and legally discuss the pros and cons of unionization with employees. Quite simply, NLRB’s proposal would deny business owners the appropriate amount of time to hold conversations on decisions that would greatly impact the future of the workplace. It is also unfair to employees – some who may not want union representation and are unaware that a union campaign is underway – because they would be less likely to hear both sides of the debate. “The NLRB should focus on policies that will create jobs and get the economy moving again, not additional burdens that seem to only benefit the unions,” Warner reminded the NLRB. “For all of these reasons, I respectfully urge the board to withdrawal its proposal.” The NLRB’s trend of pro-organized labor rulemakings comes in the wake of the legislative failure of federal union “card check” legislation. The PA Chamber helped to defeat that proposal, which would have stripped employees of the right to a private ballot vote when determining whether to unionize. Under the proposal, once 51 percent of signatures are obtained, a union could move to organize and NLRB could not require a private ballot, opening up employees to intimidation and coercion. The measure also contained harmful binding arbitration provisions that could have resulted in government bureaucrats making important business decisions. The PA Chamber remains vigilant against NLRB’s attempts to accomplish through regulation what couldn’t be achieved through the legislative process. ### Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of Business. |
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