A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has ruled in Chamber of Commerce of the United States, et al. v. National Labor Relations Board that the NLRB lacked a quorum when it approved new rules governing union representation elections and that therefore the rules are invalid.  In his May 14, 2012 decision, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found that NLRB Member Brian Hayes did not participate in the vote on the new rules, and that only Chairman Pearce and Member Becker actually were present for quorum purposes.  Under the Supreme Court’s decision in New Process Steel, it is clear the NLRB cannot effectively act with only two members as a quorum.  The Court pointed out that the NLRB could take up the rules again and consider their passage with a proper quorum.  The decision may be viewed at:

http://www.laborrelationscounsel.com/Chamber%20of%20Commerce%20v.%20NLRB.pdf