How the National Labor Relations Board members addressed their latest kerfuffle internally

Joint Statement by NLRB Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce and Members Brian Hayes, Richard Griffin, and Sharon Block

English: Mark Gaston Pearce. Mr. Pearce was a ...

English: Mark Gaston Pearce. Mr. Pearce was a member of the National Labor Relations Board (an independent agency of the United States federal government), serving a recess appointment as a Member of the NLRB from April 7, 2010, to June 21, 2010. He was confirmed by the United States Senate to a five-year term on June 22, 2010. He was appointed Chair of the agency by President Barack Obama on August 28, 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Two days ago, we announced that Terence F. Flynn tendered his resignation to the President and the Board Chairman, effective July 24, 2012.  Mr. Flynn immediately recused himself from all agency business and asked that the President withdraw his nomination for Board Member of the NLRB.

We acknowledge that the events leading up to this announcement may have been the cause of some frustration among our staff.  While you showed extreme patience, your instinct to protect and defend the institution that you hold dear was strong.
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 came as a result of the united efforts of the four Board Members present today, along with our offices and that of the Solicitor, who worked tirelessly to reach a resolution acceptable to all concerned and, most importantly, one that would protect this vital institution.
Today we ask you to reflect on the mission of this agency. We are here to enforce a statute that guarantees the right of employees to organize, bargain collectively with their employers or to refrain from all such activity.  This statute, the National Labor Relations Act, implements this nation’s labor policy – a policy that assures free choice and encourages collective bargaining as a means of maintaining industrial peace.  We serve the public in this regard employing the highest of ethical standards.  
Recent events have created a distraction from this mission.   Such distractions shall not tarnish this agency’s image – an image created from the good and honest work of its employees.  These events also caused us to reflect on the extremely high value we as Board Members place on the deliberations we have with each other and, as importantly, the free and open exchange we have with you in considering cases.  Hopefully, we can all come away from this difficult experience and the threat it posed to our deliberative process with a greater appreciation for that process.
We thanked you earlier for your hard work and commitment to excellence through even the most difficult of circumstances. You are not given enough recognition for these efforts and the ethical manner in which you pursue them.
Today, we as a Board renew our commitment to the public’s trust. We hold sacred the ethical principles that are central to this Agency, including safeguarding confidential information and deliberations.
While we as a Board may occasionally differ on matters of law, we are united in our high regard for this Agency and our commitment to fairness, collegiality and integrity.
Editorial note:  I added the bold highlighting to the one paragraph. – MVD
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