The Nation Magazine contributing writer Michelle Chen discussed multiple issues occurring within the National Labor Relations Board on the Sept. 17 episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast.

Chen covered the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and how it is currently stacked against workers. She said many of the dominating members of the board have a union-busting background and have largely sided with management and employers over workers.

She said cases that advocate for the betterment of workers and unions are typically thrown out by this NLRB.

Joint-employer standard

Chen then discussed how the current NLRB has tightened up the joint-employer standard. Under the previous administration, the joint-employer standard was loosened so the NLRB could hold more employers accountable for wrongdoing.

Under the Trump administration however, the joint-employer standard has been tightened back up.

Chen later discussed how rank and file NLRB workers, who are represented by the NLRB Union and NLRB Professional Association feel as if their work is useless. She said the cases they work on fall on deaf ears and are not properly handled by the political appointees who run the NLRB.

Scabby the Rat

At the end of the episode, Chen mentioned another problem the current head of the NLRB has. He has taken cases from employers who seek to ban the use of a large inflatable rat, often placed outside of a business to let the public know that the employer does not use union labor.

Although not as commonly seen in current times, Scabby the Rat has been a symbol of the labor movement for years.

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