NRLB Reports Increases in Unfair Labor Practice Filings

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has recently reported that the agency is seeing significant increases in unfair labor practice (ULP) charges and representation petitions in the first six months of the 2023 fiscal year, currently counting at around 10,792 cases.  This is in addition to the 16,720 cases charged in the 2021 fiscal year, and 20,498 cases charged in the 2022 fiscal year.  The reason 2023 is breaking headlines in the NLRB, is because the percentage of case increases has been the single biggest since fiscal year 1976, and it is continuing to grow.  Established in 1935 during the new deal era, the NLRB is the federal agency that is responsible for protecting employees against unfair labor practices.  The COVID years have proven difficult for the agency, and they have been struggling with staffing shortages and a lack of funding.  In December, Congress provided a $25 million budget increase to the agency allowing them to prevent furloughs and a hiring freeze.  Going forward, it is uncertain how the agency plans to handle the increase in casework while they are still recovering from the COVID years.