Flynn
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - National Labor Relations Board Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce and Members Brian Hayes, Richard Griffin and Sharon Block issued a joint statement Tuesday about the recently announced resignation of Member Terence F. Flynn.
The four members said, "We acknowledge that the events leading up to this announcement may have been the cause of some frustration among our staff... There were many questions but very few answers.
"We regret that these highly unusual circumstances gave the Board much to consider and very little that could be shared. Resolution of this matter was the result of the efforts of the board and staff."
Flynn, who had been receiving pressure to resign for several weeks, submitted his resignation Saturday to President Barack Obama and Pearce. The resignation is effective July 24, 2012.
Congressional Democrats had been calling for Flynn's resignation after he allegedly furnished information about NLRB business to outside sources. The NLRB Inspector General determined in March that Flynn violated some Executive Branch ethical standards by doing so.
The four noted that what has occurred recently has been a distraction for them. But they said the image of the NLRB should not be tarnished.
"These events also caused us to reflect on the extremely high value we as The Board will immediately continue deliberations and processing of cases," they said. "Flynn's cases are being reassigned, as are members of his staff."
"We are moving quickly to put the distractions of recent weeks behind us and to return the focus to where it belongs - on the issues and cases that American workers bring to us every day," Pearce said.
"I would ask everyone with an interest in the law that we enforce to join us in that effort."