WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Independent Women’s Forum released the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate vote on Lauren McFerran chairing the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for another term. Senators voted 50 to 49 to strike down her confirmation.
Patrice Onwuka, director of the Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) at Independent Women’s Forum, issued the following statement:
“We applaud every senator who voted against Lauren McFerran’s confirmation in Senator Chuck Schumer’s last-ditch effort to hamstring President Trump from installing his choice to lead the NLRB and thwart Trump’s pro-worker freedom agenda. McFerran is anti-worker, anti-small business, and anti-women’s opportunity.
“Under McFerran’s leadership, the NLRB has made politicized decisions that undercut American workers’ rights and privacy around unionization. By silencing employers and rewarding union organizers who use racist and sexist language, the board has placed its thumb on the scale for unions rather than retaining neutrality and constitutionally protected freedom of speech.
“Also, franchises and small businesses have had to fight the imposition of costly and destructive NLRB regulations led by McFerran. Of the nearly 13 million women-owned small businesses, many are franchises or do business with independent contractors. They would have faced burdens from the NLRB’s sweeping proposed joint employer rule had the board not withdrawn it following bipartisan congressional rebuke. Women also stand to lose flexibility and the freedom to work for themselves due to the NLRB’s needless crackdown on independent contracting.
“Time after time, courts have invalidated McFerran’s radical agenda. Meanwhile, House and Senate labor committees scrutinized the NLRB’s expansive policies and misconduct. Additionally, the NLRB’s Office of the Inspector General found that, under McFerran, the board was guilty of “gross mismanagement” and a “lack of candor” that “created the risk of great reputational harm that could negatively impact the ability of the Agency to carry out [its] mission.”
“McFerran did not deserve another term to rehash failed policies or thwart the president-elect’s agenda that respects worker choices and encourages the entrepreneurial spirit. We applaud this (bipartisan) Senate for standing up for women and workers.”
For background:
- Read the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace letter which IWF signed onto here.
- Read the Daily Signal op-ed written by IWF Senior Policy Analyst Carrie Sheffield: Radical NLRB Chief Should Be Replaced, Not Reappointed
Independent Women’s Forum is dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well intended but actually enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities.
Independent Women’s Forum’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) aims to educate the public about how government policies impact people’s opportunities for economic development and upward mobility.