Statement by American Rights at Work Executive Director Kimberly Freeman Brown on Passage of the NLRB Resolution to Ensure a Fair Vote for Workers

kristySRI/ESG News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 30, 2011

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Statement by American Rights at Work Executive Director Kimberly Freeman Brown on Passage of the NLRB Resolution to Ensure a Fair Vote for Workers

Washington, DC – Today, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) voted to approve a resolution that includes some but not all of the proposals set forth in its recent rule to ensure a fairer union election process for workers. The rule standardizes the union election process so that workers can vote on whether to form a union if they want to. In response, American Rights at Work Executive Director Kimberly Freeman Brown issued the following statement:

“Today’s vote is a step in the right direction toward giving more men and women a fair vote in the workplace to help rebalance our economy, and rebuild the middle class. Currently, workers who petition for an election encounter delays of months and even years, and some never get to vote at all. Cutting back on the excessive delays and litigation that plague the current system will be good for employers, employees, and taxpayers who foot the bill.

“Opposition to these commonsense changes is pure politics. This year, right-wing politicians have launched an unprecedented attack on the NLRB and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), to chip away at basic workplace protections and dismantle the one agency workers can turn to when their rights are violated on the job.

“It’s no secret: In today’s upside down economy, the 99 percent is struggling to get by, while the 1 percent is doing better than ever. Any bit of help for everyday Americans to get ahead in this economy is a good thing. However, much more needs to be done to fully address the obstacles workers face when they try to come together for a voice on the job, and the Board should move quickly to approve the remaining proposals.”

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Resources:

More information on the rule is available here: http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/eye-on-the-nlrb/updates/proposed-nlrb-election-rule-20110623-1025-388-388.html