Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) applauded the recent decision issued by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proposing new rules to speed up and modernize union elections. 

“As the son of an ironworker, who was a proud union member, I have great respect for our nation’s history of unions fighting on behalf of working people.  I saw firsthand through my father how unions help the ‘little guy’ when, at times, it seems no one will.  The NLRB’s decision makes it harder for companies to snuff out unions before they can materialize.  It gives workers a better chance to organize and achieve better working conditions, benefits and salaries. In addition, management will still have ample time to make its case as to why a union may not be necessary in their workplace. 

“More often than not, unionizing will help workers in the long run, and the NLRB decision removes some of the obstacles that are often thrown in their path.  As we have witnessed in Wisconsin, there is a push by some to stand in the way of workers’ unionization and negotiated rights.  The delays attached to union votes are just another way to prevent workers from moving towards a union and achieving parity in bargaining with management.  This decision will provide a more balanced playing field for unions and management to make their case to workers.  This is a good day for workers, and in recent months, there have not been many of them.”

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