The NLRB apparently has some issues with its own unionized employees. According to a recent report, members of the NLRB Union, a labor union that represents NLRB attorneys, agents, and others in regional offices around the country, passed out fliers at a labor law conference. The flier accuses Chairman Mark Pearce (D) and Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon of various actions like:
- reducing the time unionized employees have to participate in grievance meetings and arbitrations;
- unilaterally limiting what employees earn from a performance incentive program; and
- limiting alternative work schedules and telecommuting.
The NLRB has taken a number of steps recently to promote the ability of employees in the private sector to unionize and to otherwise strengthen collective bargaining. The rules requiring a notice posting and speeding up union elections are just two examples of these actions. Labor professionals shouldn’t expect the NLRB’s own union issues to slow the pace of its union-friendly actions. Indeed, both the notice rule and the election rule are still slated to become effective on April 30, 2012.