Under the previous administration, the National Labor Relations Board was not too keen on hearing the cases of labor unions, even going back and reversing decisions made in favor of labor. With President Biden immediately making changes to the board after being inaugurated, there are high hopes the board will view unions more favorably.
Communications Workers of America District 4 Director Frank Mathews discussed the changes made at the NLRB and what it means to have a labor friendly administration in office when he appeared on America’s Work Force Union Podcast.
Immediate Changes to the National Labor Relations Board
Upon assuming office, President Biden got to work, immediately acting on his promises. He promised to be the most worker-friendly president in history, music to the ears of union leaders. Given the amount of broken promises that were made during the last presidency, people were still skeptical that President Biden might be the same way.
During his first week in office, President Biden fired Peter Robb, the Trump-appointed general counsel for the NLRB and Alice B. Stock, who was Robb’s deputy.
The former NLRB revisited old cases and reversed decisions made in favor of labor unions. Now that the NLRB has a majority that favors labor, labor unions can finally get a fair shake in board rulings.
With America’s corporate greed rapidly growing, workers suffer. Having the NLRB be favorable towards labor unions can help keep corporations accountable by not infringing on the rights of unions, follow OSHA guidelines to keep workers safe, pay workers the wages they deserve and allow them to collectively bargain.
PRO Act and other legislation
Mathews also spoke about the need to pass the Protect the Right to Organize Act. The PRO Act has been a hot topic over the past year and it is picking up momentum again.
It has passed through the House of Representatives and now needs to pass through Congress. The PRO Act is essential for workers to ensure that their rights as workers are protected and it keeps corporations at bay.
The For the People Act, or H.R. 1, is also at the forefront of discussion right now.
Mathews said it would expand voting rights, change campaign finance laws that would reduce the influence of money in politics, limit gerrymandering and create new ethics rules for federal officeholders.