Editorial: Confirm NLRB Members to Protect Nurses
An editorial in the South Jersey Times calls on the U.S. Senate to approve President Barack Obama's nominations to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to ensure nurses at Memorial Hospital of Salem County have their rights to collective bargaining protected. More than two years ago, the nurses voted to form a union and attempted to enter into contract negotiations with Community Health Systems (CHS), the owner of the hospital. CHS refused to recognize the union and appealed the election to the NLRB. The case remains in limbo because of a federal appeals court decision that is obstructing the work of the NLRB by severely limiting the president's authority to make recess appointments when Congress won't act on nominees. The nurses' case is one of many pending cases before the NLRB, which can't move forward because Republicans don't want the board to function properly and protect the rights of U.S. workers.
Here's an excerpt from the editorial:
Because several nominations made to the NLRB by President Barack Obama are pending approval in Congress, there’s been no action on the Salem County issue and many other labor board cases....
Today’s congressional gridlock belies the concept of “balance of powers.” By failing to act on presidential appointments, in defiance of a constitutional mandate for “advice and consent,” the legislative branch wrests power away from the executive branch.
It’s not just the NLRB. Dozens of federal judicial vacancies remain unfilled, with an average wait of 224 days until a nominee reaches confirmation stage. According to the Alliance for Justice, that’s up from 176 days under George W. Bush and 98 days under Bill Clinton at the same points in their terms in office.
Gridlock or not, Congress must fulfill its constitutional mandates. The effects of its failure are being felt in Salem County and elsewhere.
Read the full editorial .
