Washington, D.C. – On January 9, CDW and 22 other organizations filed comments in support of the NLRB’s “Election Protection Rule.” In its comments, the coalition applauded the Board’s efforts to improve and clarify its representation case procedures. With its proposed rule the Board is considering three changes:

• Allowing employees a 45-day window to request a secret ballot election to decertify a union that was voluntarily recognized by an employer based on “card check”;
• Replacing the current “blocking charge” policy (which halts all union decertification elections if an Unfair Labor Practice Charge is filed against the employer until the charge is settled) with a “vote-and-impound” procedure requiring the decertification election to continue but impounding votes until the charge is settled; and
• Changing the special rules for the construction industry by allowing employees to demand an election if the agreement between a union and employer has not been certified by majority support.

If adopted, the changes will better protect and preserve employees’ right of free choice in representation elections without disrupting current processes or burdening their right to organize. CDW supports the rulemaking and encourages the Board to formally adopt it.