Stop the NLRB from Stripping Away Worker's Rights

The Bush-appointed National Labor Relations Board has refused to hear oral arguments before deciding three cases that could rob hundreds of thousands of workers of their basic rights - including many of us in the entertainment industry! Their decision could strip worker protections from many of our members.

Urge your members of Congress to demand that Bush's labor board reverse its decision and listen to what the public has to say!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Tell the NLRB to hear oral arguments in the Kentucy River cases

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am outraged that the National Labor Relations Board has refused to hear oral arguments in the "Kentucky River" cases that will determine the definition of "supervisor."

Because workers classified as supervisors do not have federal labor law protection, a broad definition could strip hundreds of thousands of workers of their contract protection and deny even more workers the basic freedom to organize and bargain collectively for a fair deal from big corporations. Although the Kentucky River decision could be among the most important labor rulings of our time, the NLRB is flatly refusing to hear from the public through oral arguments in these critical cases.

The NLRB's decision not to hear oral arguments is part of a very troubling trend. In fact, the NLRB hasn't heard any oral arguments since 2001. This is the only five-year period in the last 25 years in which the NLRB has refused to allow a real debate on the issues though oral arguments.

I urge you to contact NLRB Chairman Robert J. Battista and tell him to reverse the decision not to hear oral arguments in the Kentucky River cases so that American workers can get a full and fair hearing.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
July 21, 2006

Background Information

Thousands of workers in the entertainment industry could lose their union voice if the NLRB expands the definition of “supervisor” in three cases the board is about to decide.

At a time when working people are being squeezed as never before and Washington isn’t listening to America’s workers, the Bush administration is making things even worse by slashing workers’ rights at every turn.

The NLRB appointed by Bush has refused to hear oral arguments as it considers the three cases that could reshape basic workplace rights and further erode our freedom to form unions. This is an outrage that must be reversed!

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) reports that the pending NLRB decisions in the so-called “Kentucky River” cases could strip labor law protection from 8 million workers, denying them of their freedom to form unions and bargain collectively.

The nationwide week of action to raise awareness about the Bush-appointed National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB’s) pending decision on the definition of a supervisor—a massive threat to workers’ freedom to form unions—was a huge success. Events took place in 21 cities across the country with thousands of nurses, constructions workers and others participating.

Activists like you have sent more than 100,000 messages to members of Congress urging them to tell President Bush’s NLRB to reverse its decision not to hear oral arguments on the issue and to listen to the public.

Please urge your members of Congress to tell NLRB Chairman Robert J. Battista to reverse the decision not to hear oral arguments in these critical cases.

The NLRB’s arrogant refusal to hear workers’ voices through oral arguments is another example of the Bush-appointed, corporate-loving board working to throttle the voice of working people. Bush’s labor board has a history of conducting its business without the thorough public debate that oral arguments provide.

Please urge your members of Congress to tell Chairman Battista to listen to the public and hear oral arguments in the Kentucky River cases.

Thank you for protecting workers’ rights.

In solidarity,

Missy Humphrey