Labor Relations Today

Congress Reacts to President's Renominations of Block and Griffin: Yesterday, @LRToday reported that President Obama had resubmitted the nominations of Richard Griffin and Sharon Block, both Democrats, for positions on the National Labor Relations Board. The President's nominations have sparked varying reactions in Washington, according to Kevin Bogardus of The Hill. 

Republican Senator Tom Harkin (Iowa), chair of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee, stated that he was pleased with the nominations and also expressed hope that the President would nominate two Republicans to the Board as well.

Several House Republican leaders, including Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (VA), also sent the President a letter requesting that he nominate "four qualified individuals" to the Board so that it would have a Constitutionally-sound quorum.

This is most likely the beginning and not the end of the fight over Board nominations. We will be watching closely and will keep you abreast of any developments.

United, Union Reach Tentatively Deal on New CBA: David McAfee of Law360 ($$) reports that United Continental Holdings Inc., which includes both United and Continental Airlines, has reached a tentative deal with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers that would cover over 30,000 employees.

“I want to acknowledge the hard work of the negotiating committee members in reaching these agreements,” Jon Roitman, senior vice president of airport operations for United, said Wednesday. “The agreements are an important part of working together to build the world's leading airline.”

The union also said that it would be briefing members on the terms of the proposed deal, with a vote to be conducted by mail soon after. We will keep you posted on the results.

Right To Work Bill Gaining Steam in Missouri: Elizabeth Crisp of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that legislation that would make Missouri the most recent Right-to-work state is moving forward in the legislature. Both the House and the Senate have held hearings on the issue, with standing-room-only crowds attending both sessions.

"I’ve seen a momentum building around the country, and I don’t think it’s an issue that Missourians or our Legislature can simply ignore or avoid,” said House Speaker Tim Jones, Republican from Eureka who has signed on as a co-sponsor of right-to-work legislation here. “It may be a multiyear process because this is the first time — in a long time — these issues have been debated with this much attention."

Several legislators remarked off the record that it would be difficult to push the bill through, even with Republican veto-proof majorities in both Houses. We will keep you updated as this legislation moves toward a probable vote.