Sign Congressional Letter Supporting Reinstatement of Wilcox to NLRB

Please sign the Congressional letter of support to reinstate Gwynne Wilcox to the NLRB. The NLRB is the sole labor law enforcement agency for millions of workers. It is the only place where most private sector workers can enforce their right to a union and their right to collectively bargain. Within a week of Donald Trump assuming the presidency, the president fired Wilcox, more than three years before her term was to expire. With Wilcox's firing, the NLRB was reduced to two members. Per the Supreme Court, a quorum of at least three board members is required for the board to issue any decisions. The law is very clear on the narrow circumstances under which a president can remove a member, and no president has ever done so until now. Those narrow circumstances involve neglect (not working) and malfeasance (wrongdoing by a public official). Wilcox engaged in neither. Trump's unprecedented firing of her was unlawful. By leaving only two board members in their posts, the president has left the NLRB without quorum, effectively shutting down its operations and leaving the workers it defends on their own in the face of union-busting and retaliation. Time is of the essence when it comes to addressing unfair labor practices. A lengthy wait for reinstatement and back pay for a fired worker means a family suffers or an organizing drive is snuffed out. By firing Wilcox because he disagreed with the substance of her decisions, Trump destroyed the independence of the 90-year-old NLRB. If the president can remove board members because he disagrees with their decisions, then the members serve at his pleasure and rule at his pleasure. Workers no longer have a place where we can go and get a fair shake.  Trump complained that Wilcox was "unduly disfavoring the interests of employers." This is a clear signal to the remaining board members and any future board members (if the board ever reopens) that to keep their jobs, they should favor the interests of employers over workers. Even if Trump nominates a replacement for Wilcox to restore a quorum, the board's independence has been compromised.  The only way to undo the damage that Trump has wrought on millions of workers’ only venue to have their organizing and bargaining rights upheld is to reinstate Wilcox immediately.