Get Ready for Speed Unionization

President Obama is preparing to throw his union base a pre-election bone. It is faster elections. The median time after petition for a union election is now 38 days. That is not a lot of time for companies to catch up with unions who have been selling their side for months. The proposed change would force elections “in 10 to 21 days after the filing” of a petition. The SEIU loves it, so you know it a really bad idea.

(Bloomberg) — Speeding labor elections would deny companies a fair chance of persuading workers to reject organized representation, employers are telling U.S. regulators.

The National Labor Relations Board, which investigates unfair-labor practices, is considering adoption of steps sought by unions that would lead to quicker votes. More than 60 speakers are scheduled to testify before the board on the proposed rule today and tomorrow.

“I assure you, we all have open minds,” NLRB Chairman Wilma Liebman said today as the hearing began.
Faster elections would be a win for labor, which has lost fights this year to stop Republican governors from curbing public-employee unions in states such as Wisconsin and Ohio. Speakers include representatives from about 14 unions, 10 businesses or business groups, and academics. Law-firm consultants who help companies block unions also testified.