NLRB Resumes Representation Elections

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Labor Relations Board will not extend its temporary suspension of Board-conducted elections past April 3, 2020 and will instead resume conducting elections beginning Monday, April 6, 2020.  On March 19, 2020, because of the extraordinary circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NLRB had ordered the temporary suspension of all Board-conducted elections through April 3, 2020.  

As explained when ordering the suspension, the Board took the extraordinary action to ensure the safety of Agency employees and members of the public involved in elections. At the time, several of the NLRB’s regional offices had been closed and other locations were operating with limited staffing such that the Board did not believe it was possible to effectively conduct elections.

Chairman John F. Ring stated: “Conducting representation elections is core to the NLRB’s mission, and ensuring elections are carried out safely and effectively is one of our primary responsibilities. Two weeks ago, when the Board made the difficult decision to suspend elections, the developing situation made it impossible to ensure the safety of our employees or the public. With many regional offices closed and most employees teleworking, the Board was not confident that any type of election could be run effectively. Based on these concerns, the Board determined that a two-week suspension would provide the General Counsel, who is delegated authority to supervise the regional offices, which conduct elections on the Board’s behalf, the opportunity to fully review the logistics of the election procedures in light of the unprecedented situation. The General Counsel now has advised that appropriate measures are available to permit elections to resume in a safe and effective manner, which will be determined by the Regional Directors. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all NLRB stakeholders during this challenging time.”

Established in 1935, the National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency that protects employees, employers, and unions 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.