Today the National Labor Relations Board approved portions of a proposed rule to modify election procedures by a 2-1 vote. Only some of the (relatively) less controversial reforms to accelerate the pace of union elections were adopted, primarily those concerning pre-election appeals to the NLRB. Board member brian Hayes, who had reportedly threatened to resign or skip the Board’s meeting, attended and cast the lone dissenting vote. Hayes commented, ““It is not my nature to be obstructionist . . . I believe resignation would cause the very same harm and collateral damage to the reputation of this agency.”
Meanwhile, the AP reports that Boeing and the Macihinists union may have agreed to a new labor deal that effectively ends the dispute over Boeing’s decision to locate an aircraft assembly plant in South Carolina rather than Washington State. If the tentative deal is approved, the AP reports, “the union would inform the NLRB that it has no further grievances with Boeing.”