Unfair labor practice charges and union representation petitions are on the rise, according to the National Labor Relations Board.

In total, 10,792 unfair labor practice and union representation cases have been filed with the NLRB’s 48 field offices across the country during the first half of fiscal year 2023 — Oct. 1 to March 31— up 14% over the same period in fiscal year 2022.

For the first half of fiscal year 2023, unfair labor practice charges filed have increased from 8,275 to 9,592. That’s a 16% increase over the same period in fiscal year 2022. Unfair labor practice charges filed increased from 15,082 charges in fiscal year 2021 to 17,988 charges in fiscal year 2022. That’s a 19% increase year over year.

Union petitions for the first half of fiscal year 2023 have increased to 1,200 from 1,174 a year ago. The numbers support a trend in recent years. Throughout fiscal year 2022, 2,510 union representation petitions were filed, which was a 53% increase from the 1,638 petitions filed the previous fiscal year. According to NLRB, the number of union representation petitions filed in fiscal year 2022 was the highest since fiscal year 2016. 

According to the data, accounting for both labor practice charges and representation petitions, total case intake at the field offices increased 23% in fiscal Year 2022 — from 16,720 cases in fiscal year 2021 to 20,498 cases in fiscal year 2022. This increase of 3,778 cases is the largest single-year increase since fiscal year 1976 and the largest percentage increase since fiscal year 1959. If the pace continues, NLRB said that fiscal year 2023 is on track to have the second-largest percentage increase in NLRB filings since fiscal year 1959. 

“The president’s budget requests $376 million, which is much needed by the NLRB to effectively and efficiently comply with our congressional mandate when providing quality service to the public in conducting hearings and elections, investigating charges, settling and litigating meritorious cases, and obtaining full and prompt remedies for workers whose rights are violated,” NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo said.

The NLRB has taken steps in recent months to reaffirm measures meant to prevent coercion of employees during unfair labor practice investigations. The decision affirmed a 58-year-old standard the balanced employer needs and employee rights, NLRB Chair Lauren M. McFerran said in a statement in December.