NLRB Closes Out FY 2019 With Positive Case Processing Results

Improvements Consistent with Agency’s Strategic Plan Goals

WASHINGTON, DC, October 7, 2019—The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reported improved case processing statistics for FY 2019. The results reflect a renewed focus on more-timely processing of cases, which is part of the Agency’s strategic plan goals. 

The Board issued 303 decisions in contested cases during FY 2019. Adopting a case processing pilot program, the Board committed itself to expediting cases in order to better serve the parties and the American public. Under the program, there was particular focus on issuing decisions in some of the oldest cases. As a result, the median age of all cases pending before the Board was reduced from 233 days in FY 2018 to 157 days at the end of FY 2019, an almost 33% reduction.

In addition, the Board significantly reduced the number of cases pending before the Board to its lowest level since 2012.  As of the end of FY2019, the number of pending cases was reduced from 281 at the end of FY 2018 to 227 currently, a reduction of almost 20%.

During the same time period, the Regional Offices made exceptional strides to meet our strategic goal to reduce case processing time by 20% over four years. In just one year, the Regions overall nearly met our four-year goal by reducing the time of filing to disposition of unfair labor practice cases from 90 to 74 days, a decrease of 17.5%.

The Regions also overall reduced the time from informal settlement to final disposition of an unfair labor practice case from 173 to 153 days, a decrease of 11.5% and improved the timeliness of representation case handling by processing 90.9% of representation cases in 100 days or less.

The Regional Office settlement rate was 99.1% this past fiscal year, resolving over 5,000 cases prior to issuing complaint and over 800 cases post-complaint. Additionally, compliance was achieved in over 400 cases in which Board orders issued. The Regions also collected over $21.2 million dollars in backpay, fees, dues fines and reimbursements for employees. 

These are outstanding results in a fiscal year in which 18,549 unfair labor practice charges and 2,096 representation cases were filed in our Regional Offices.  

Chairman John Ring stated, “The statistics announced today are further evidence that our efforts to reduce case backlog and ensure timely consideration of cases are bearing fruit. Resolving labor disputes more quickly is one of the best ways we can advance the purposes of the Act.”   

General Counsel Peter Robb stated, “I commend the dedication of the entire NLRB staff, especially those in the field offices, for achieving these outstanding results, which puts all on notice that violations of the Act will be addressed quickly and effectively.”

Established in 1935, the National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency that protects employees and employers from unfair labor practices and protects the right of private sector employees to join together, with or without a union, to improve wages, benefits and working conditions. The NLRB conducts hundreds of workplace elections and investigates thousands of unfair labor practice charges each year.

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