NLRB Shut Down

Scores of businesses are attempting to void, ignore and block National Labor Relation Board decisions.

Ever since a court decision that found President Barack Obama's board appointments unconstitutional, companies — both big and small — have decided the rules no longer apply. Companies are exploiting the lack of a fully functioning NLRB. They're seeking to overturn union elections and avoid paying compensation to unfairly fired workers. They're blocking organization drives and stalling talks on contracts.

Starbucks, Time Warner, Domino's Pizza, CNN America and McDonald's are among the 87 companies going to court in attempts to undo NLRB decisions, according to The Wall Street Journal. A story in the Huffington Post describes how UMWA workers are still waiting for the backpay and job reinstatement that federal officials ordered last year.

Freshman Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) recently took to the House floor to decry this state of affairs. He clearly laid out how Brooklyn technicians' recent struggle at Cablevision is connected to the toothless NLRB and the broken Senate rules. Pocan, who is a member of the Painters Union, also pointed out that this abuse of workers' rights would have never happened if Congress passed the Employee Free Choice Act.

Watch his speech here: