NLRB Issues Final Rule Amending Board Election Procedures

On Dec. 22, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (the "Board") issued a Final Rule changing the way it processes election petitions. Reduced to their essentials, the changes do four things. They: (1) prohibit employers from raising most challenges as to who can and cannot vote until after the vote takes place; (2) increase the role of regional staff in deciding key election issues such as who can and cannot vote in elections; (3) reduce the ability of employers to appeal election decisions made by regional staff to the full National Labor Relations Board; and (4) make it easier for the Board to rush petitions to a vote thereby limiting the opportunity of voters to get all the information they need to make informed decisions.