Richard F. VitarelliBlog Posts
Labor Board Withdraws Proposed Rule Excluding Student Workers from NLRA CoverageIn an interesting turn foreshadowing a coming change in its leadership, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has withdrawn the rule it proposed in September 2019 to exclude student workers at private colleges and universities from coverage under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The proposed rule would have excluded students whose studies included working as teaching... Continue ReadingMarch 15, 2021 |
Acting NLRB General Counsel Rescinds Policy Guidance, Signals More Changes to ComeNew National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) Acting General Counsel Peter Sung Ohr has wasted no time. In a February 1, 2021, Memorandum, Ohr announced rescission of 10 individual policy directives issued by Peter Robb. President Joe Biden terminated Robb as NLRB General Counsel shortly after his inauguration. Why this is important? NLRB General... Continue ReadingFebruary 3, 2021 |
Labor Board Asks for Briefing on ‘Scabby the Rat’The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has asked for the parties and amici to submit briefs answering four questions in a case involving a union’s display of a large inflatable rat, commonly called “Scabby the Rat,” and two large banners on public property near the entrance of a neutral employer’s site. International Union of Operating... Continue ReadingNovember 6, 2020 |
Labor Board Decision Broadly Approves Holding ULP Trials by VideoThe National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) upheld an administrative law judge’s (ALJ) ruling directing that an unfair labor practice trial be conducted by videoconference because of the COVID-19 pandemic. William Beaumont Hospital, 370 NLRB No. 9 (Aug. 13, 2020). This decision may have broad effect even after COVID-19 concerns have passed. In-person testimony has been... Continue ReadingAugust 17, 2020 |
NLRB Orders Mail Ballot Election Delayed by Pandemic Concerns to ProceedThe National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has lifted its stay of a mail ballot election ordered by a Regional Director and denied the employer’s Request for Review of the Regional Director’s decision, based on the COVID-19 pandemic, to order a mail, rather than manual, ballot election. Atlas Pacific Engineering Company, 27-RC-258742 (May 8, 2020). On... Continue ReadingMay 13, 2020 |
NLRB Orders Mail Ballot Election Delayed by Pandemic Concerns to ProceedThe National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has lifted its stay of a mail ballot election ordered by a Regional Director and denied the employer’s Request for Review of the Regional Director’s decision, based on the COVID-19 pandemic, to order a mail, rather than manual, ballot election. Atlas Pacific Engineering Company, 27-RC-258742 (May 8, 2020). On... Continue Reading…May 13, 2020 |
NLRB Temporarily Changes Standard Notice-Posting Remedy during COVID-19 PandemicThe National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is beginning to address procedural disruptions arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 6, 2020, without a request from any party to a case, the NLRB “announce[d] . . . a temporary change in the Board’s standard notice-posting remedy to adapt to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.” The temporary... Continue Reading…May 11, 2020 |
NLRB Temporarily Changes Standard Notice-Posting Remedy during COVID-19 PandemicThe National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is beginning to address procedural disruptions arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 6, 2020, without a request from any party to a case, the NLRB “announce[d] . . . a temporary change in the Board’s standard notice-posting remedy to adapt to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.” The temporary... Continue ReadingMay 11, 2020 |
GC Memo Summarizes NLRB Decisions About Duty To Bargain in Emergency SituationsPeter B. Robb, the General Counsel (GC) of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a Memorandum setting forth summaries of NLRB decisions about unionized employers’ duty to bargain in emergency situations. Memorandum GC 20-04 “Case Summaries Pertaining to the Duty to Bargain in Emergency Situations” (March 27, 2020). The Memorandum was issued in... Continue ReadingMarch 28, 2020 |
NLRB Delays Election Rule Start Date to June 1 at Judge’s RequestThe National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has delayed implementation of its new representation case rules to June 1, 2020. (For more on the new rule, which was supposed to be effective on April 16, 2020, see Labor Board: Upcoming New Election Rule Relieves Employers of Many Burdens of Quickie Election Rule.) The NLRB previously announced... Continue ReadingMarch 22, 2020 |