On November 30, 2011, by a vote of 2-1, a bitterly divided National Labor Relations Board (Board) resolved to move forward with some, but decidedly not all, of the procedural changes it had proposed on June 22. While the Board’s Democratic majority referenced its desire to reduce “unnecessary, expensive, and time-consuming litigation for the Board and all parties,” the dissenting Republican Member, and most observers, have more accurately described the measure as another effort to shorten the time from the filing of an election petition to the date of the election. This would make it more difficult for employers to communicate with employees prior to the vote, and make it easier for unions to win more elections (although unions are already winning elections at a historically high rate of around 70%!).

The Board’s resolution will result in the drafting of a Final Rule, which will then have to be circulated to the Board Members for approval, and if passed (very likely given the November 30 resolution), will then be published in the Federal Register. So, despite considerable publicity given to the November 30 vote, the changes are not yet imminent.