The question is being asked, legitimately, if it is now time to abandon the National Labor Relations Board in light of the Kentucky River decision? I’ve been among those that for a long time have advocated abandoning the NLRB process. Even without the Kentucky River decision, as veteran organizers and negotiators know, winning an election can take years and winning a first contract is no simple task even after a union gets certified. The process has been fixed.

A few hold out the hope that we can get the labor laws changed. Not going to happen for a very long time, if ever, absent pressure from the streets. Personally, I believe all the energy spent on promoting the Employee Free Choice Act is a waste of time: even if Democrats regain control of the House and the Senate, there are Democrats like Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House Democratic whip, who have promised business lobbyists that there won’t be any “orgy of business bashing” if the Dems take over. So, you can forget about that being a priority. And does anyone think that the legislation would get 60 votes in the Senate to get past a filibuster, which you know the business community will demand Republicans launch?

The alternative, then, is to invest all organizing efforts in obtaining “card check” and other tactics that pressure a company to recognize the union and negotiate fairly.

What do you think? NLRB or junk the NLRB?