On the recordSeptember 23, 2010
on May 11, 2010, the National Mediation Board, the board that oversees labor relations in transportation--in the railroad and airlines industries--finalized a regulation repealing the 75-year-old majority rule. Under the majority rule, a majority of the organizing unit was required to affirmatively vote yes to unionize. The repeal of this rule means that now a minority in the bargaining unit can organize, essentially permanently, the entire organization of the unit. Today, I am asking this body to pass S.J. Res. 30 to undo this rule change under the procedures created by the Congressional Review Act of 1996. This law allows Congress to disapprove regulatory rules issued by Federal agencies by enacting a joint resolution of disapproval. This resolution will revoke a recent regulation promulgated by the National Mediation Board eliminating the old majority rule that had been in place for 75 years under 12 Presidential administrations. Under the old rules, a majority of the workers in the organizing unit were required to affirmatively vote yes in order to organize. Under the new rules, however, only a majority of those voting are required to vote yes to organize a union.
