This week President Obama announced that Brian Hayes is his Republican nominee to fill the last remaining open seat on the National Labor Relations Board. Historically the Board appointments get voted on as a “package deal” to make sure the balance is always 3 members in the President’s party and 2 from the other party, so Mr. Hayes is the last remaining piece in the puzzle to get a full, five-member panel for the first time in a couple of years.
Look for the Senate to take quick action to confirm the three appointments. More important, look for the Board under Wilma Liebman’s leadership to start taking some bold moves to undo what she sees as years of improper decisions and inaction by her agency.
Finally, take a look at my recent post on why unions don’t need 60 votes in the Senate when they’ve got 3 votes on the NLRB who can essentially pass EFCA on their own.
