On April 11, the Senate confirmed John F. Ring’s appointment to the National Labor Relations Board for a term expiring on December 16, 2022. Once Ring is sworn in, the Board will return to a full complement of five members, with a three-to-two Republican majority. Ring is currently a partner at the law firm of Morgan Lewis & Bockius in Washington, DC, where he co-leads the firm’s Labor-Management Relations Practice representing employers in a variety of labor and employment matters. He has been with the firm his entire legal career, starting in 1988.
Since late December, the Board has been operating with two Republicans and two Democrats, rendering it unable to issue decisions in cases changing case law and in other controversial cases. For just three months prior to that, the Board had three Republicans and two Democrats. During that period, the Board reversed several significant decisions considered to be unfair or unworkable for employers. After Ring is seated and has time to get up to speed, the Board will likely resume such activity.