It has been so long since the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election regulations have been updated that they still include requirements for carbon copies and say nothing about using electronic filing or communications. The proposed amendments would allow the NLRB to use 21st century technology to streamline processes and protect the rights of all parties involved in an NLRB election. More than that, the amendments would bring the NLRB into better compliance with Congress’ mandates under the National Labor Relations Act. Finally, the proposed regulations draw on lessons learned from decades of experience handling hundreds of thousands of cases each year under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

—Ellen Dannin, Fannie Weiss Distinguished Faculty Scholar and Professor of Law at Penn State University