Statement of NLRB Board Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce on the Senate Confirmation of Richard F. Griffin, Jr. to be NLRB General Counsel

“Today’s Senate vote to confirm Richard F. Griffin, Jr. as General Counsel will ensure the NLRB’s ability to enforce the National Labor Relations Act.  The Act guarantees the right of private sector workers to organize and bargain collectively with their employers and to participate in concerted activities to improve their pay and working conditions.
“Having served as a staff attorney and as a member of the Board, Mr. Griffin has a wealth of experience in labor law and a deep understanding of the National Labor Relations Act.  On behalf of the NLRB, I welcome him back and know that he will play a vital role in ensuring that we continue to provide excellent service to the American people. 
“The Agency and the American people owe a debt of gratitude to Lafe E. Solomon, who began his career at the NLRB in 1972 and has served so ably as the Acting General Counsel since June of 2010. His courage and dedication to the mission and to improving the efficiency of the Agency during his term as Acting General Counsel was extraordinary.  I know that all the dedicated public servants who work for the Agency in headquarters and regional offices throughout the country appreciate his long record of service and significant accomplishments at the NLRB.”
Established in 1935, the National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency that protects employers and employees from unfair labor practices, and protects the right of private sector employees to join together, with or without a union, to improve wages, benefits and working conditions. The NLRB conducts hundreds of workplace elections and investigates thousands of unfair labor practice charges each year.