President Bush�s Jan. 4 recess appointment of attorney Peter N. Kirsanow to the National Labor Relations Board moves the panel closer to full strength, filling one of two open slots on the five-person board. But it�s uncertain whether his appointment, which extends into 2007, will help trim the backlog of big NLRB cases, some involving construction.
NLRB policy has been to have at least three votes for a position on key cases, three being a majority of the panel�s full complement, says Dave Parker, deputy executive secretary. With four members, he says, �That means the board could issue �lead cases� if it chooses to.�