President Obama Recess Appoints Block, Griffin to the NLRB
WASHINGTON, DC – Today President Obama announced four recess appointments, two of which, Sharon Block and Richard Griffin, are IFPTE backed nominations to fill two of the five slots on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Block’s résumé includes her current position as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, while Griffin is the longtime General Counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). Previously, Block had served as Senator Edward Kennedy’s Senior Labor and Employment Counsel for the Senate HELP Committee from 2006 to 2009, and Griffin was Counsel for NLRB Board Members from 1981 to 1983.
President Obama released the following statement to accompany his appointments:
“The American people deserve to have qualified public servants fighting for them every day - whether it is to enforce new consumer protections or uphold the rights of working Americans. We can’t wait to act to strengthen the economy and restore security for our middle class and those trying to get in it, and that’s why I am proud to appoint these fine individuals to get to work for the American people.”
Gregory J. Junemann, President of the 85,000 member International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), released the following statement in support of today’s appointments:
“Needless to say, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that one of the first orders of business for a small, but very effective group of obstructionist Senators would no doubt be to block these worthy candidates from ever being approved for these important positions. For that reason alone IFPTE applauds President Obama for proactively appointing these nominees before the Congress returns later this month. These are critically important positions for America’s workers and consumers, and the President’s actions today were necessary and appropriate.”
Also receiving appointments today are Richard Cordray to be the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Terence F. Flynn to also join the NLRB.