RILA Welcomes Bill to Reverse NLRB Decision in Specialty Healthcare 

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) applauded the introduction of legislation to stop the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) ill-conceived effort to fragment workplaces by dramatically reducing the standard by which a collective bargaining unit is defined.

The Representation Fairness Restoration Act would reverse the NLRB’s decision in the Specialty Healthcare case, a ruling that radically changes the standard for determining what constitutes a bargaining unit and paves the way for a flood of “micro-unions.” The Specialty decision gives organized labor the ability to cherry pick elements of a workplace that has been targeted for organizing but where a majority of employees oppose unionization.

“We applaud Senator Isakson and his Senate colleagues for striking back quicklyagainst the NLRB’s ill-conceived ruling and on behalf of fairness and flexibility in the workplace,”said Kelly Kolb, vice president for government affairs.“The Specialty Healthcare case is just one of several examples of how the NLRB’s activist agenda has created added uncertainty for employers who are struggling to add jobs.We urge Congress to move quickly to pass this legislation and send a clear message to America’s employers that Washington is serious about creating jobs in America.”

The NLRB’s ruling in the Specialty Healthcare case is devastating to employees, job creators and U.S. productivity. Among other things, gerrymandered bargaining units would create unnecessary divisions within a workplace, undermine staffing flexibility, reduce career development opportunities and dramatically increase a company’s operating costs.

RILA is the trade association of the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

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