Trump fires senior labor board official in ‘unprecedented and illegal’ move
Trump fires senior labor board official in ‘unprecedented and illegal’ move
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Gwynne Wilcox pledges to challenge decision after dismissal in effect paralyzes National Labor Relations Board. Donald Trump has fired a senior official at the top US labor watchdog, in effect paralyzing the body until a replacement is confirmed. Gwynne Wilcox, a member and former chair of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), described her dismissal as “unprecedented and illegal” and pledged to challenge the move.
Her removal leaves the board with only two members, and leaves it without a quorum of three members required to issue decisions, per a 2010 supreme court ruling. Wilcox was confirmed by the Senate, and her term was due to continue until August 2028. She had been appointed chair of the NLRB by Biden last month, before Trump appointed Marvin Kaplan, a Republican-appointed member, as chair last week.
“It’s been an honor to serve as a Board Member and Chair of the National Labor Relations Board,” Wilcox said in a statement. “As the first Black woman Board Member, I brought a unique perspective that I believe will be lost upon my unprecedented and illegal removal. Throughout my time at the NLRB, I’ve worked well with my colleagues and the dedicated career staff who uphold the mission of the Agency. I will be pursuing all legal avenues to challenge my removal, which violates long-standing Supreme Court precedent.”.
