Industry News

NMB Proposes Union Election Rule Changes

November 4, 2009 | 03:25 p.m. CST

The National Mediation Board (NMB) recently proposed a rule that would reform the union election voting process at railroads and airlines, reports Progressive Railroading.

The board is proposing to change the threshold for a successful union election from a majority of eligible voters in a classification to a majority of voters who actually participate in an election. The NMB is accepting comments on the proposal until Jan. 4, 2010.

"The board believes that this change to its election procedures will provide a more reliable measure/indicator of employee sentiment in representation disputes and provide employees with clear choices in representation matters," NMB members said in a proposed rule change notice.

Several labor organizations expressed support for the proposed rule, including the Teamsters and the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department. "This reform brings union elections up to modern standards of democratic election law," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "It gives workers the right to sit out an election if they choose, just as they can sit out the presidential election."

However, the National Right to Work Foundation believes the rule would force unionism at non-union workplaces. "The proposed change imposes a greater burden on employees who wish to refrain from union membership by forcing them to either take affirmative action to oppose the union or otherwise potentially allow far less than a majority to make that decision for them," said foundation Vice President Stefan Gleason. "Individual workers should never be forced into union ranks against their will."