Multi-industry letter urging the Senate HELP Committee to hold a hearing on the President's Nomination of Craig Becker to Serve as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board

October 15, 2009

The Honorable Tom Harkin
Chairman
Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mike Enzi
Ranking Member
Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Enzi:

The undersigned trade associations represent millions of employers in every size, sector, and region of the country. We are writing to urge you to hold a hearing on the President's nomination of Craig Becker to serve as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board prior to this Committee voting on whether he should be confirmed by the United States Senate.

Mr. Becker has written prolifically about the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the law he would be charged with interpreting and enforcing should he be confirmed. Many of the positions taken in his writings are well outside the mainstream and would disrupt years of established precedent and the delicate balance in current labor law. These positions have raised significant concern in the employer community, for example, the extent to which he would restrictively interpret employers' free speech rights. The public deserves an opportunity to hear from Mr. Becker directly as to whether he still believes in the positions espoused in his writings or whether his views on these issues have changed over time.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Air Conditioning Contractors of America
American Hotel & Lodging Association
American Meat Institute
Associated Builders and Contractors
Associated General Contractors of America
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Business Roundtable
College and University Professional Association for Human Resources
Food Marketing Institute
HR Policy Association
Independent Electrical Contractors
International Council of Shopping Centers
International Foodservice Distributors Association
International Franchise Association
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
National Federation of Independent Business
National Pest Management Association
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
National Retail Federation
National Utility Contractors Association
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association
Printing Industries of America
Retail Industry Leaders Association
Society for Human Resource Management
Steel Manufacturers Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Utility Line Clearance Coalition

Cc: The Members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions