NLRB Contracts

Ever since the Republicans gained a majority on the National Labor Relations Board, they have taken small steps to limit their jurisdictional boundaries. The board, said Commissioner Philip Ray Rogers, should not poke into labor squabbles involving hot-dog stands, service stations, apartment houses. Last week the board took another big step to cut down the number of cases it handles. It waived its jurisdiction over small retail stores, utility companies, transit systems, radio and TV stations and five other types of businesses.

By thus sawing a thick slice off its case load, the board hopes to give itself more time to interpret issues that are "clearly of . . . national concern." To meet the board's new requirements for interstate operators, a retailer must 1) buy at least $1,000,000 worth of goods a year directly outside his state (v. $500,000 previously), or 2) buy $2,000,000 indirectly (v. $1,000,000), or 3) ship $100,000 worth outside the state (v. $25,000). Companies in some categories are excluded completely if their yearly gross revenues do not reach a certain level (e.g., $500,000 for a newspaper).

The excluded firms will have to take disputes to existing state and local agencies. Where appropriate ones do not exist. NLRB hopes new laws will be enacted to create them.

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