Gov. Scott Walker
As election season approaches, both Democrats and Republicans are attempting to use issues related to unions and labor regulatory agencies to position themselves for campaign contributions and votes. Republican contender
Scott Walker came out of the chute aiming high, planning to dissolve the NLRB, make it illegal for public employees to join unions, and create a national right-to-work law. Unless there is a GOP landslide in both houses of Congress, such a landscape change isn’t very likely, and at this point, Walker seems to be losing headway in the race. [BREAKING – Walker has resigned from the race. It remains to be seen if another GOP candidate will take up the pro-employer mantle.] The Democrats have meanwhile proposed a bill that will most likely become a litmus test for vetting Democrat candidates, similar to the way the Employee Free Choice Act was used in 2008. In contrast to Walker’s proposal, the
proposed Wage Act would strengthen the NLRB, requiring the board to go to court on behalf of workers fired for attempting to unionize. It would also establish damages and back pay for such workers, give similar protections to immigrant workers without work authorizations and establish penalties against employers who supposedly violate workers’ rights.