NLRB Transition Continues

For the first time since 2017, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) will transition back to a Democratic majority. The U.S. Senate has narrowly confirmed President Biden’s selections to fill two seats on the Board with attorneys Gwynne Wilcox and David Prouty.

After a Senate vote of 52-47, Ms. Wilcox was sworn in yesterday to fill a vacant seat on the Board. She is the first Black woman to serve on the Board. Ms. Wilcox most recently worked as a senior partner at Levy Ratner, P.C., a labor-side labor and employment law firm. She served as Associate General Counsel of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and as a labor representative to the NYC Office of Collective Bargaining. Prior to joining Levy Ratner, Ms. Wilcox worked as an NLRB Field Attorney. She has a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark and a B.A. from Syracuse University.

Mr. Prouty will join the Board when current member William J. Emanual’s term expires on August 27, 2021. Approved with a Senate vote of 53-46, he is the current General Counsel for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ. Previously, he served as General Counsel and Chief Labor Counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Association, as well as General Counsel of UNITE HERE. Mr. Prouty received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and an A.B. from Bowdoin College.

As we discussed last week in relation to the NLRB’s new General Counsel, employers should expect NLRB rulings to transition back toward an expansive view of employee rights. 

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