Policymaking under the Bush II National Relations Board

Abstract

This lead article considers the legacy of the National Labor Relations Board during the Bush II Presidential administration. Finding that the nomination process evolved into a partisan platform, the author traces Board’s decisions through this period and suggests that the Board failed to implement the animating purpose of the National Labor Relations Act. Finally, the author suggests strategies to revitalize the Board starting with the appointments of neutral non-partisan administrators, decisionmakers and staff members. Training must be for the purpose of decisionmaking for the purpose of promoting the public interest in ways that are meaningful for all stakeholders including workers, businesses and the general public. Noting that the National Labor Relations Act has not been amended in 50 years during which time the labor markets have dramatically changed, the author encourages amendments to the National Labor Relations Act to formalize these goals.