NLRB Warns of Extended Shutdown and Furloughs

Topics: Legal Information

NLRB Chairwoman Wilma Liebman announcedlast weekthat the NLRB budget would be severely impacted if the House budget bill was to pass. Liebman stated that the NLRB would lilkely have to furlough all of their employees for nearly three months (55 workdays) between now and September if the bill passes. A vote on the bill (HR1) is expected soon.

In her statement Liebman explained:

"Nearly all of the agency's budget is spent on salaries and rents; there are no programs to eliminate or postpone. The only way to meet this extreme and immediate reduction would be to furlough all of the NLRB's 1,665 employees for 55 workdays, or nearly three months, between now and the end of September. The great majority of these employees work far from Washington D.C., in 51 local offices, where every NLRB case begins. The economic impact of this cut would be felt by families and communities in 33 states.

If enacted, the House proposal could force the NLRB to curtail all agency operations, including investigating alleged illegal practices by private sector employers and unions, conducting workplace elections, and helping to settle election-related disputes. Regulation of a broad range of conduct, such as unlawful lockouts of workers, termination of union organizers, refusals to bargain with unions selected by workers, unilateral changes to contract provisions covering such things as health insurance and pensions, unlawful strikes, picket line violence, and secondary boycotts, would be stalled if this proposal were adopted."

Such a shutdown would be unprecedented and depending on where they are in negotiations/impasse, could even have some effect on whether we have an NFL season next year, given the timing outlined by Chairwoman Liebman. Stay tuned for further updates.