Published 29 Jun, 2011
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is taking an important step to make union elections fairer by proposing changes to speed up the often delayed and difficult election process, but the changes still fall short of fundamental labor law reform that American workers need to fully exercise their voice on the job.
The proposal would eliminate some of the bureaucracy, lawsuits and tactics used by companies to delay union representation elections that cost time and money while allowing management more time to pressure workers against forming a union. It would also modernize communications and information sharing. In a statement the NLRB said the proposal would “reduce unnecessary barriers to the fair and expeditious resolution of questions concerning representation.”
“Every worker has the right to decide to join a union and making union elections more efficient, modern and streamlined will help remove some of the barriers to exercising those rights. The delays in the elections process create disruption, cost resources and used to intimidate workers,” said TWU International President James C. Little.
All too often union elections are dragged out and companies use heavy-handed tactics to prevent workers from exercising their fundamental right to form a union. Workers are subjected to anti-union meetings and videos during work time as well as propaganda and warnings of job loss. The time between filing for an election and actually holding the election is an average of 54 days, which gives companies time to squash an organizing drive while the unnecessary legal challenges costs taxpayer and company money.
The NLRB proposal would streamline the process by standardizing the schedule, allowing for electronic filing of documents, expediting information sharing, eliminating unnecessary litigation and standardizing procedures. It would defer litigation over voter eligibility until after the election and require the company to quickly provide the union with a final voter list in electronic form.
This sensible proposal still falls short of giving American workers a true voice on the job and the ability to join together in order to bargain for a better future, but as political wrangling has blocked real reform, the NLRB is carrying out its duty to ensure fair elections and that workers can exercise their legal rights.