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Unions are alleging that the Trump administration — and more specifically, the Republican-controlled National Labor Relations Board — is taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to further weaken unions.

A final rule published April 1 seeks to eliminate the so-called blocking charge policy. The measure allows election results to be delayed if an employer is accused of unlawful coercion or other unfair labor practices.

The measure also reduces the number of employees required to file for union decertification to 30%. Union representatives allege these changes give firms new election manipulation powers and make it possible for far fewer workers to nullify a union.

“The board is effectively sealing off any viable path to unionization at a time when workers need a voice on the job more than ever,” said Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO.

A month earlier, the Federal Labor Relations Authority issued a rule proposal that would let federal employees cancel union dues at any time after a year of membership, rather than in the annual 15-day window established under current law.