Bush's Labor Non-Agenda

ByMichael A. Verespej Of the dozen or more things on President Bush's agenda, labor ranks, at best, 10th. "Bush owes labor zilch," says G. John Tysse, employment law attorney with McGuiness, Norris & Williams. "I don't see his Administration making any concessions to organized labor." He expects Bush's greatest labor impact to come from appointments to the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Occupational Safety & Health Review Commissions -- each of which has two to three vacancies. "He will have the opportunity very quickly to shape the make-up of these agencies and designate a chairman," says Tysse. "It is a safe bet that the philosophy of the people he will appoint will be more pro-business than pro-union." As for the controversial ergonomics standard, Tysse expects he will try to reopen the record in an effort to modify certain provisions written into the standard.