The AFL-CIO Executive Council, which covers nearly 60 affiliated unions, issued a policy statement Feb. 26, 2013 demanding President Obama and the Senate act immediately to bring the NLRB to full strength.
As we have reported here, in its recent Noel Canning decision, the D.C. Circuit invalidated the President's January 2012 recess appointments to the NLRB. The Council called the decision "radical," “unprecedented” and “sweeping in its potential reach.” The policy statement also says, “This is an intolerable and unacceptable situation. Working people deserve a functioning NLRB that will enforce workers’ rights” and that the “labor movement must mobilize itself and its allies to demand action by the Senate and win confirmation of a package of nominees to the NLRB. We will hold senators of both parties accountable if they stand in the way or fail to act.” The policy statement can be found here. The New York Times politics and government blog The Caucus reports that Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America and chairman of the AFL-CIO’s organizing committee said in a news briefing that the union expects Senate Democrats to "use all the options" to get nominees approved. Cohen warned that if Senate Republicans filibustered to block the nominations and Senate Democrats did not then adopt tougher rules to overcome filibusters, “we will mobilize and take action against the Senate Democrats like we never have before.” The Caucus blog entry can be found here.
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