General Counsel Announces Case Reallocation Initiative to Tackle Historic Backlog

Today the National Labor Relations Board engaged in a bulk transfer of approximately 3,500 unfair labor practice cases. The transfer was part of the General Counsel’s initiative to address the Agency’s backlog of cases pending in Regional Offices prior to January 7, 2026.

As a result of the transfer, impacted parties will receive notification if their cases were transferred to another region for processing.

Please note case numbers will not change. Only cases where no Board Agent is currently assigned were part of the transfer. Transfer orders will contain updated regional contact information for parties in the event they have any questions regarding the status of their case.

Select cases from Regions 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13,15,16, 22, 28 and 31 were transferred to balance the aging cases across all regions nationwide.  Consistent with OM 26-02 (“New Agency Wide Docketing Protocol”), transferred cases will be assigned to Board Agents when the receiving region has the capacity to timely process the charge.

To support this initiative, General Counsel Carey emphasized, “My top priority has always been, and continues to be, ensuring that all parties receive prompt resolution of their cases. Following a comprehensive review of pending Unfair Labor Practice cases throughout the Agency, it became evident that the inability to timely adjudicate aging cases necessitated their redistribution across various regions. The Agency cannot effectively fulfill its mission if cases grow stale in Regional Offices lacking the necessary capacity for timely processing. Through this strategic approach, the Agency will be able to implement the National Labor Relations Act more efficiently and provide determinations to parties who have been waiting months, or even years, for resolution."