Comment on FR Doc # E9-22030

The National Labor Relations Board Union represents approximately 940 Field Attorneys, Field Examiners and Support Staff employed by the National Labor Relations Board. Our members work in Washington D.C. and 51 field offices throughout the Nation, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. We also bring U.S. labor law to such overseas territories and protectorates as the Mariana Islands. I write to you in support of the proposed changes the Code of Federal Regulations regarding use of sick leave, funeral leave, leave transfer, etc., expanding the definition of “family member” to add domestic partners, including both same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners, domestic partners of children, parents and siblings, and adding grandparents, step parents and step children. As employees of a federal Agency which works to ensure fair and equal treatment of employees, and as federal employees who enjoy our own rights to a family-friendly workplace, we know firsthand the benefits that these proposed changes will bring to our affected co-workers, and employees throughout the federal workforce. Those benefits are not just those given directly to employees by virtue of the changes, but also those which accrue indirectly, through improved employee morale and higher productivity. The proposed changes have been long awaited and quite welcome. If you require further information, the NLRB Union will make every effort to comply with your requests, including face-to-face meetings with you or your staff. Please contact me at (212) 264-0319 at the above address if you require anything further. In my absence, feel free to contact either of our EEO Co-Chairs, Jeff Gardner (973) 645-3318 or Mara-Louise Anzalone (202) 531-8898, or one of our Legislative Co-Chairs, David Schaff (907) 271-5015 or Bert Dice-Goldberg (973) 645-3536.