The Hill News

These are strange times at the National Labor Relations Board. First, the Board has endured months of relentless right-wing attacks. Now, in an unprecedented move, Brian Hayes, the sole Republican member of the NLRB â€" which will be reduced to two members and lacking a quorum by the year’s end â€" is threatening to resign in order to sabotage a long-awaited new rule on union certification elections.

In an op-ed in The Hill, former Bush NLRB chairman Peter Schaumber, a prominent critic of the Board, blames the current shambles on the allegedly shabby way Hayes has been treated by his fellow Board members, both Democrats. But Hayes’ resignation threat has been coming for months.

When Chairman Wilma Liebman’s term ended in late August, right wing groups and prominent Republicans immediately called for Hayes to step down in order to incapacitate the Board. Senator Graham stated that, given the NLRB’s efforts to enforce the law more effectively,!   “Inoperable is progress,” whereas South Carolina Governor Nikki Halley would “support anything that would disband the NLRB.” Perhaps the only surprise is that Hayes has taken so long to follow their advice.

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