President Obama has announced his nomination of Brian E. Hayes, Republican Labor Policy Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board). If confirmed, Hayes would join current member Peter Schaumber as the second Republican to serve on the five-member Board. Board Members are appointed to five-year terms, with the term of one member expiring each year. The Board traditionally consists of three members selected by the party controlling the White House, and two from the opposing party. In April, Obama named Democrats Craig Becker and Mark Pearce as his other picks to fill the three vacant seats. Current NLRB Chairman Wilma Liebman is also a Democrat. On July 9, the White House sent the nominations of Becker, Pearce and Hayes to the Senate for confirmation.

According to information provided by the White House announcement, before serving as a Senate staffer, Hayes worked for 25 years in private practice as a management-side labor and employment attorney. Prior to entering the private sector, Hayes clerked for the Chief Judge of the National Labor Relations Board and then as Counsel to the Chairman of the NLRB. While working in private practice, Hayes taught classes in Labor Law, Collective Bargaining, Arbitration and Employment Litigation at Western New England Law School. Has earned his undergraduate degree at Boston College and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

It is not yet clear when confirmation proceedings will occur, or whether the three pending nominees will be considered as a package or individually.