On Feb. 17, President Joe Biden nominated Jennifer Abruzzo as the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, the independent federal agency vested with the power to “safeguard employees' rights to organize and to determine whether to have unions as their bargaining representative.”

Abruzzo currently serves as the special counsel for strategic initiatives for the Communications Workers of America. Prior to joining CWA, Abruzzo served in several different roles at the NLRB, including former acting general counsel.

This nomination comes weeks after President Biden fired former NLRB General Counsel Peter Robb and his deputy, Alice Stock, on inauguration day. The termination was unprecedented at the independent agency, as Robb left the NLRB with 10 months to go in his term.

Abruzzo’s nomination will be referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, as the powerful NLRB-agenda setting position of general counsel requires Senate confirmation with a simple majority.