Facing the possibility of 80 million private-sector workers losing access to workplace protections and labor law enforcement before Labor Day, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and allies today held a Day of Action, calling on the Senate to confirm the five current nominees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The Give Us 5 campaign also is working to end Senate Republicans’ tactics to cripple the NLRB, including legislation to defund the board, shut it down and curtail its work, and legal challenges that have stalled justice for many workers. 

In Washington, D.C., a chorus of workers and impassioned supporters chanted, “Gimme 5,” outside the Chamber of Commerce building. They high-fived passing pedestrians and distributed literature after listening to the story of a former CNN director, Jimmy Suissa, who was fired for organizing on the job. A court ruled Suissa's firing was illegal and he is owed back pay, but he is unable to collect compensation because of a federal appeals court decision that is obstructing enforcement of NLRB rulings by severely limiting the president's authority to make recess appointments when Congress won't act on nominees.

CWA said:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has continually worked to block our rights to workplace justice—and so while the Senate is out of town, we will take our campaign for a fully confirmed NLRB to their offices.

CWA reports other Day of Action events in more than 20 states, including:

• Petition signatures demanding confirmation of the NLRB nominees delivered to seven Senate offices: Today, the coalition delivered thousands of signatures to seven Senate offices. Members of leading coalition organizations, such as CWA, AFL-CIO, Blue Green Alliance and Sierra Club, are delivering petitions to Senate offices in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin demanding that their senators confirm the president’s nominees or approve rules reform.
• Leafleting and phone campaign into overdrive in 19 states: More than 50 state  and local affiliate organizations are leading leafleting drives at worksites and generating member calls to their senators in 19 states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. 
• Expanded in-state visibility: CWA and its partners are coordinating rallies in front of Senate offices and worksites in seven states across the country, including California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas.

The NLRB was established in 1935 to prevent unfair labor practices and enforce workers’ rights to join a union without intimidation from their employer. It enforces our nation’s labor laws and ensures fairness in the workplace. Congress is due back to work July 8 and the nominees—three Democrats and two Republicans—must be confirmed before August, when the term of one of the current NLRB members ends and the board will be without a quorum.

If the Senate does not confirm the outstanding nominees, CWA is advocating for a rule change to end the filibuster and allow executive branch nominees to receive a majority “up-or-down” vote.

Check out giveus5nlrb.org to sign the petition calling on the Senate to confirm the five NLRB nominees.