Democratic Union Elections

Apr. 1, 2011 | H.Amdt. 229 to H.R. 658

Last year, the National Mediation Board (NMB) issued a new rule for union representation elections for airline and rail workers that calls for the majority of votes cast to determine the outcome of the elections—just as the majority of votes cast decide congressional and other elections. Previously each worker who did not cast a vote was counted as "No" vote. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill would have returned election rules to the previous system. Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) offered an amendment to the bill that would have preserved the NMB rule in which representation would be determined by a majority of the votes actually cast.