Senator Alexander’s remarks in support of S.J. Res. 30 grossly mischaracterize the National Mediation Board’s new rule on union elections in the aviation and rail industries, and must not go unanswered (“Alexander Says National Mediation Board ‘Overstepped Its Bounds,’” September 23).
The Board’s new rule simply allows elections to be determined by the majority of votes from voting employees, instead of counting non-voters as a “no” vote, as the old rule stipulated. Just imagine a presidential election under that nonsensical process—all non-voters would be counted as a vote for the incumbent.
With that scenario in mind, it’s clear that the Board’s decision was entirely justified.
Hardworking aviation and rail workers, regardless of their stance on unions, now have a more fair and democratic election process. And yesterday, Senator Alexander and his colleagues stood poised to take it all back. It’s a good thing for working families that they didn’t succeed.
Kimberly Freeman Brown, Executive Director
American Rights at Work
Washington, DC