Recently the National Labor Relations Board, which includes three relatively new appointments from President Obama, issued a string of decisions that will benefit working people.  Some say that these decisions will wind up with our president doing more for the labor movement than any president in the last three decades.

First the NLRB issued a ruling that may make it easier for employees of McDonald's to unionize.  Also one of the President's appointees (Richard Griffin) used his position as general counsel of the NLRB to file 13 complaints against McDonald's for labor law violations committed by its franchisees.  

The Board also issued decisions that says an employee has the right for union representation during a drug test and one that says employers cannot exclude union reps from peer review committees.

Also, an NLRB rule that largely eliminated management litigation prior to a union organizing vote - dubbed by business as the "ambush election rule" - has shortened the time it takes to hold a union election by 40%.

With union membership slightly increasing last year it does seem that the tide may be turning towards aa brighter future for the labor movement and all working people.  

Terry Grant, President OPWU AFL-CIO