NEWSROOM

A Feb. 9 vote in the U.S. Senate to cut off debate on the nomination of Craig Becker for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) failed 52 to 33 to reach the 60 votes needed to move forward with his appointment.  

Becker, a former Service Employees International Union and AFL-CIO associate general counsel, has stated in the past that the NLRB should strip employers “of any cognizable interest in their employees’ election of representatives,” including the right to file objections to union misconduct or challenge the makeup of a proposed bargaining unit.  

In a letter sent before the vote, ABC urged all Senators to vote not to move forward with Becker’s nomination, expressing concern over Becker’s suggestion that the NLRB should essentially overturn 60 years of labor law without Congressional approval.  

“The NLRB’s decisions and regulations have far-reaching and significant implications for employers, employees and labor-management relations throughout the country,” the letter stated.  “Given Mr. Becker’s statements and his close affiliation with Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) proponents, we are concerned, among other things, that he may spearhead efforts to implement the goals of EFCA through NLRB decisions and regulations or otherwise undermine decades of established labor law.  Such changes would make an already hostile business climate less predictable, undermining our members’ ability to create jobs.”