Dear Senator:
The AFL-CIO urges you to support Lauren McFerran’s nomination to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board.
Ms. McFerran is highly qualified to serve on the NLRB, having served as labor counsel to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for the past nine years and as an associate at a labor law firm prior to that. She has broad knowledge of federal labor and employment laws, including the National Labor Relations Act, and a proven ability to work in a bipartisan manner. McFerran’s experience handling a wide range of issues under the NLRA for the Committee will serve her well as a member of the NLRB.
While we wholeheartedly support McFerran’s nomination and think she will serve with distinction as a member of the NLRB, the circumstances leading to McFerran’s nomination are extremely unfortunate. Sharon Block, the President’s previous nominee to this seat, was also a superb nominee and highly qualified to return to service as a member of the NLRB. She was wrongly denied consideration for this post not because of her qualifications or record, but because of politics – because she accepted a recess appointment to the NLRB from the President that some Republican senators found objectionable. It is wrong and unfair that Block’s nomination was withdrawn.
We urge you to vote for Lauren McFerran’s nomination when it comes before the U.S. Senate for a vote. It is critically important that a vote on McFerran’s nomination occur at the earliest possible opportunity so that the NLRB may remain fully staffed.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
William Samuel, Director
Government Affairs Department