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Thursday, September 19, 2024

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U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Labor Advocates Want Congress to Approve NLRB Funding Boost

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Monday, December 19, 2022   

Labor advocates are asking Congress to better fund the National Labor Relations Board in its upcoming budget.

The NLRB budget has declined 25% since 2014. However, as support for unions has risen, the agency needs more funding to handle these cases.

According to the NLRB, more than 2,500 union petitions have been filed between September 2021 and October 2022. It's the most the agency has seen since 2016.

Staffing has declined at the agency as well.

Ed Hawthorne, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, described how the funding issue and other problems are impacting the NLRB.

"This leaves workers at a disadvantage and it discourages concerted speech, and it harms workers trying to gain a voice in the workplace by forming a union," said Hawthorne. "So, it would make a huge difference in enforcing the laws that are already on the books."

He added that without people to adjudicate incoming claims and run elections, workers remain at a distinct disadvantage.

Hawthorne said he wants to see this funding approved by the lame-duck Congress, but he said he feels it's not a good bet. He said he hopes this funding will come through to better aid workers' rights and union efforts.

In November, the chairwoman and general counsel of the NLRB sent a letter to the members of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies urging them to approve a funding boost.

The agency has implemented a hiring freeze, but Hawthorne noted that more dire consequences are in store if the agency doesn't receive this money.

"If they don't get the funding, they're actually looking at furloughs," said Hawthorne. "I mean, that's how bad it is. At the current funding level, the agency will likely initiate a furlough and lay people off temporarily, harming public employees and exacerbating the problem. That's how the flat funding since 2014, that's the effect that it's having."

According to the letter, the NLRB expects to cover a 4.6% pay increase in January, and wants to blunt any non-labor related inflation costs.




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