Activists Push "Give Me 5 NLRB Members" Message on Capitol Hill

At CWA's latest political boot camp in Northern California, 25 members made four calls each into Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer's offices, telling them, "Give us five!" In total, about 100 calls were made.

Union activists spent two days on Capitol Hill, telling senators and staff that the Senate majority must confirm all five NLRB nominees to ensure 80 million workers have rights under federal law.

CWA activist Robert England and the fly-in's California delegation visit Sen. Barbara Boxer's office.

The current board has one confirmed member whose term expires in late August; two others are recess appointments. In a broad ruling, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals voided these and other recess appointments made by President Obama. If the Senate doesn't act before its August recess begins, 80 million private sector workers, both union members and non-represented, will lose their rights on the job. And we know the opposition won't stop there.

This week more than 50 local leaders and allies from 24 states were part of the "fly-in," that brought union activists, including Robert England of CWA Local 9415, who traveled from Bakersfield, Calif., to lobby elected officials in the Senate and House. England had meetings scheduled at the offices of California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, among others.

"It's cut and dry: Approve all five NLRB nominees or change the rules," said England. "This is so important to workers."

The Sierra Club, another CWA ally, was featured in a print ad in Roll Call, a Capitol Hill publication. The message, from Michael Brune, executive director, said:

"We can't hold big polluters accountable or protect the rights of American workers and consumers if we've got no cops on the beat. But, inaction in the Senate has left key watchdog agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Labor Relations Board without leaders while putting key safeguards in jeopardy. The Senate Majority needs to break the logjam and confirm the President's qualified nominees to fix the Senate and show the American people they can still get things done."