(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - During the first six months of Fiscal Year 2024 (October 1st through March 31st), Union Election Petitions filed at National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Field Offices rose 35% over the same period in Fiscal Year 2023, the NLRB announced.

Notably, this is driven by a spike in employer-filed RM petitions, after the NLRB’s Cemex decision, accompanied by an uptick in Employee-filed RC petitions.

In total, 1,618 petitions were filed during this time, compared with 1,199 in the first half of Fiscal Year 2023.

Of the recent petitions, 1,137 were RC petitions and 281 were RM petitions. 

At the same time, Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charges filed across the NLRB’s Field Offices have increased 7% - from 9,612 to 10,278.  

Accounting for Union Petitions and ULP Charges, the NLRB received 11,896 cases in the first half of Fiscal Year 2024, up 10% over the first half of Fiscal Year 2023 when the Field Offices received 10,811 cases. 

This increase in filings continues the surge in NLRB caseload in recent years.

In Fiscal Year 2023, ULP charges were up 10% and election petitions were up 3% over the previous year.

In Fiscal Year 2022, Union Petitions were up 53% and ULP charges filed increased 19% over Fiscal Year 2021. 

The surge in caseload occurs as the Agency struggles with funding and staffing shortages.

Last month, Congress flat-funded the NLRB at $299.2 million at a time when more resources are desperately needed.

Last year, Congress gave the NLRB a $25 million increase, which ended a hiring freeze, prevented furloughs, and allowed the NLRB to backfill some critical Staff vacancies.

However, the NLRB remains understaffed after flat funding in nine of the past 10 years.

In the past two decades, staffing in Field Offices has shrunk by 50%.  

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Union Petitions Up 35%, Unfair Labor Practices Charge Filings Up 7% in the First Half of Fiscal Year 2024 | National Labor Relations Board (nlrb.gov)