The NLRB received a $25 million hike in funding from Congress a few weeks ago. This is the first increase in nearly 10 years. What’s interesting, though, are some of the stats and numbers behind this increase.
The Biden administration called for a $43 million boost to the NLRB’s funding. A group of nearly 150 lawmakers asked appropriators for even more, saying the agency needs at least a $93 million increase.
Per NLRB leadership – it needed $18.7 million in new funding just to maintain the status quo. It cited to increased wages, inflation, and regional office cost-savings relocation commitments. If the NLRB did not get a pile of cash, it threatened to furlough employees.
Proponents for the increase pointed to the 53% increase in union representation petitions and nearly 19% increase in unfair labor practice charges in the past year. These increases have resulted in an increased workload for NLRB employees.
But some find these increase to be an aberration, since the NLRB’s caseload has been steadily declining for decades. Unionization rates are near an all-time low.
That 19% bump in unfair labor practice filings last year resulted in 17,998 filings. This is over 10,000 less filings than the Board processed in 2001. The same is true for union elections.
Many argue these numbers do not suggest the agency is now suddenly under-resourced and in dire need of money. Unions, the White House, Democrats in Congress, and NLRB employees believe they need more money. Business owners and many Republicans in Congress feel differently.
The Biden administration called for a $43 million boost to the NLRB’s funding. A group of nearly 150 lawmakers asked appropriators for even more, saying the agency needs at least a $93 million increase.
Per NLRB leadership – it needed $18.7 million in new funding just to maintain the status quo. It cited to increased wages, inflation, and regional office cost-savings relocation commitments. If the NLRB did not get a pile of cash, it threatened to furlough employees.
Proponents for the increase pointed to the 53% increase in union representation petitions and nearly 19% increase in unfair labor practice charges in the past year. These increases have resulted in an increased workload for NLRB employees.
But some find these increase to be an aberration, since the NLRB’s caseload has been steadily declining for decades. Unionization rates are near an all-time low.
That 19% bump in unfair labor practice filings last year resulted in 17,998 filings. This is over 10,000 less filings than the Board processed in 2001. The same is true for union elections.
Many argue these numbers do not suggest the agency is now suddenly under-resourced and in dire need of money. Unions, the White House, Democrats in Congress, and NLRB employees believe they need more money. Business owners and many Republicans in Congress feel differently.
#nlrb #unionorganizing #ulp #unfairlaborpractice