SUMMARY:  The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted along party lines in support the nomination of Catherine Bird to be the General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority.  NTEU opposes this nomination.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a business meeting today to consider several nominations, including the nomination of Catherine Bird to be the General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).  As you know, the General Counsel of the FLRA makes decisions on whether to issue unfair labor practice complaints for violations of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute based on charges filed by unions and agencies.  

Given Ms. Bird’s lack of experience in federal sector labor law and the fact that she engaged in bad-faith bargaining during NTEU’s efforts to create a new collective bargaining agreement at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), NTEU sent the attached letter to the committee detailing her efforts to undermine employees’ collective bargaining rights and protections and urged Members to oppose her nomination.  Nonetheless, the Committee voted to favorably report her nomination to the full Senate along party lines.  This mirrors the outcome from last year when the Committee acted on the nomination before it was returned to the White House without a Senate vote.  

Although recent changes to Senate rules makes it easier for the majority party to confirm nominees, NTEU will continue to fight against Ms. Bird’s confirmation to this critical position affecting union rights and I will keep you updated as the Senate considers her nomination.