The Hill - Republicans Propose Amending NLRB Rules to Allow Performance Bonuses, Raises
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By Pete Kasperowicz
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) and two dozen other House Republicans put forward a bill this week that would amend rules laid down by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that prevent union members with locked-in pay levels from receiving performance-based bonuses and raises.
Rokita argues that the NLRB has ruled that giving out individual bonuses and raises constitutes "direct dealing," and the NLRB has the authority to reject any pay hikes given to union workers that are not negotiated by unions. Rokita said this doesn't give workers any incentive to do well in their job and that they need some incentive to compete in the global economy.
"More than 8 million Americans are now prohibited from ever getting a performance-based raise, no matter how well they do their jobs," he said. "We can't expect American businesses to be competitive in a globalized economy under a system that forbids individual raises and discourages hard work."
Rokita said the Rewarding Achievement and Incentivizing Successful Employees (RAISE) Act, H.R. 4385, would not affect existing union contracts but would allow individual pay hikes or bonuses in future contracts.
The NLRB has been a frequent target of Republican criticism, and Republican senators next week will have a chance to press their own proposal to reform NLRB rules. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that the Senate would hold four hours of debate next week on S.J.Res. 36, which is a GOP resolution that disapproves of an NLRB rule aimed at speeding up the process of holding union elections.
Republicans have said this rule will lead to "quickie" elections and it unfairly hinders the ability of companies to prepare for such elections. The NLRB election rule was decided last year, but it takes effect April 30.
Senate Republicans were able to force a debate and vote on their resolution under the Congressional Review Act, as 45 senators signed a petition calling on it to be discharged from committee.
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