Published 06 Jan, 2012
This past Wednesday, President Obama announced the recess appointment of three individuals to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
The individuals, Sharon Block, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor; Terence F. Flynn, currently detailed to serve as Chief Counsel to NLRB Board Member Brian Hayes; and Richard Griffin, General Counsel for International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) will fill the vacant positions bringing the total members to five. The previous two-member board was unable to carry out its duties as stated in a 2010 Supreme Court decision ruling a two-member board “lacks a quorum and cannot exercise its full authority in a number of critical areas.”
“The American people deserve to have qualified public servants fighting for them every day – whether it is to enforce new consumer protections or uphold the rights of working Americans,” said Obama. “ We can’t wait to act to strengthen the economy and restore security for our middle class and those trying to get in it, and that’s why I am proud to appoint these fine individuals to get to work for the American people.”
The President also appointed Richard Cordray as the Director at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, who will work to ensure people are protected against financial corporations and to take action against those corporations who take advantage of consumers. The filling of this director position, vacant since 2010, positions the agency to now move ahead and fulfill its objectives.
The appointments, each fully qualified, were made after months of Senate Republicans saying they would not confirm any nominees, which prevented each agency from operating and defending workers’ rights.
As Republicans and corporations continue to take advantage of consumers and attack the NLRB, they display zero concern for workers’ rights or the concerns for the losses consumers can face. It is crucial these agencies are up and running so they can fight for and represent workers and consumers who are taken advantage of while ensuring violators face the consequences they are due.