Deborah Yaffe named Director of the NLRB General Counsel’s Office of Appeals

Lafe E. Solomon, Acting General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, today announced the appointment of career NLRB attorney Deborah Yaffe as Director of the General Counsel’s Office of Appeals.  Ms. Yaffe will lead the office that investigates appeals by employers, unions, and individuals who believe their unfair labor practice allegations have been wrongly dismissed.
A 35-year veteran of the NLRB, Ms. Yaffe began working in the Office of Appeals in 1977, first as a staff attorney and then as a supervisor.  She was named Assistant Director of the Office in 1996 and Deputy Director in 2003.   Ms. Yaffe received a B.A. degree cum laude in psychology from the University of Rochester in 1972, and a J.D. degree from The National Law Center, George Washington University in 1977. 
Initial decisions about whether to dismiss a charge or issue complaint are made by Regional Directors in one of the NLRB’s 28 regional offices.  Persons dissatisfied with a regional office’s handling of their case may seek review of a dismissal in the Office of Appeals, which is the office of final review.  Each year, the Office handles some 2,000 cases, personally briefing the General Counsel in cases that present significant or novel legal issues.
Ms. Yaffe’s appointment, which is subject to the approval of the Office of Personnel Management, carries the rank of career Senior Executive. The NLRB investigates and remedies unfair labor practices and conducts secret-ballot elections to determine whether employees desire union representation.