The three member National Mediation Board made it easier for unions to organize by changing the rule to require only a majority of those voting rather than a majority of the total workforce. The Air Transport Association is expected to challenge the changes in court. This rule change will make voting by all employees even more important than ever before. This rule also seems to give the unions good cause to “misplace” the nay votes until the majority of votes cast can be reached.
The board proposed the rule change in October, after a request from the A.F.L.-C.I.O. That request came soon after President Obama named Linda Puchala — former head of a flight attendants’ union — to the board, shifting the balance of power.
It should be no surprise that Obama paid off the unions with this appointment to the Board. The dissent came from a Bush appointee.
The final rule was approved 2-1, with the chairwoman, Elizabeth Dougherty, issuing a fierce dissent. Ms. Dougherty, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, said the change was “an unprecedented departure for the National Mediation Board and represents the most dramatic policy shift in the history of the agency.”
Either way, two people have decided to change a long standing rule that will impact most people via unionized workplaces. This type of power should never be concentrated to the whims of two people. It is bad enough that 9 people can set precedent for the whole country via the Supreme Court.