The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was established on June 29, 1934. It was first run by the chair, J Warren Madden and now is headed by Mark Pearce. The National Labor Relations Board is a US agency in charge of dealing with unfair labor practices and electing labor union representatives. They investigate unfair labor practices like, union related situations or instances of protected concerted activity. Later in 1933 a different version of the board was created but then quickly shut down by the Supreme Court.
The NLRB is a group of only five people. Currently ran by; Mark Gaston (Chairman), Sharon Block, Terence Flynn, Richard Griffin, and Lafe Solomon (Acting General Counsel). The NLRB was created by Franklin Roosevelt when workers started riots in Washington DC. Originally the organization had practically no useful purpose. For the first few months the only thing the board could really do is revoke the “blue eagle”. The “blue eagle” is simply a symbol used to show participation and support of the NLRB.
It wasn’t until February of 1934 that Senator Wagner purposed a new act that gave the NLRB the rights it has today. The Wagner act described the NLRB having the power to investigate any unfair labor practices and the election of Labor Union Representatives throughout the US. Congress passed the act later in the year. It was then soon discovered that the distinction between the board and general council would have to be made. In 1947, the Taft-Hartley Act was created and stated that the board would be in charge decided what “unfair labor practice” cases would be investigated and the voting of Labor Union Reps. The General Counsel would then be responsible for investigating and prosecuting the cases that are then brought in.
The jurisdiction of the NLRB is very, very limited. The NLRB is only permitted to investigate and prosecute cases with the United States Postal Service. They don’t have any jurisdiction on employees of railroad, airline, governmental, or agricultural. Although, the jurisdiction of those are low sometimes the NLRB get a permit to juristic a private sector case. The members of the board have a five year long terms other than the General Counsel who only has a four year long term. All of which are picked the current president.
Honestly, I think the board is pointless. They were created during the Great Depression to keep all labor unions under control. But now a day, when the board only has jurisdiction on the Postal Service, it seems like a waste. It almost seems like the government created this board simply to keep the riots out of their hair. I think it would be much easier to give them the power among all unions once again. But that’s just my opinion.
(NLRB logo)
(first NLRB board)
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