Craig Becker
Encyclopedia
Harold Craig Becker known professionally as Craig Becker, is a member of the National Labor Relations Board
.
veteran and a professor at the University of Iowa
. Becker graduated from Yale University
in 1978, and Yale Law School
in 1981. He was an editor of the Yale Law Journal
.
from 1981 through 1983. He then worked at Kirschner, Weinberg & Dempsey (1983–1989), a firm located in Washington, D.C.
After his work there, he taught at UCLA Law School (1989–1994) and Georgetown University Law School (1987–1988). He taught at the University of Chicago Law School
. He has been Associate General Counsel
to the AFL-CIO
and the Service Employees International Union
(SEIU). Throughout his career, he argued many cases in court, including in front of the Supreme Court of the United States
. In 2009, he was a member of the Obama transition team, assisting with the review of the United States Department of Labor
.
for a seat on the National Labor Relations Board
; a 13-10 vote by a Senate panel on Feb 4, 2010 allowed his nomination to move to the Senate floor. However, his nomination failed to move to a floor vote on a vote of 52-33, falling eight short of the votes needed to block a Republican filibuster. On March 27, 2010, President Obama made a recess appointment
of Becker to the National Labor Relations Board. The president’s action enables Becker to serve without Senate confirmation until the chamber adjourns at the end of 2011.
, is an Associate Professor of history at the University of Chicago
. His father, Samuel L. Becker, is a retired professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Studies at the University of Iowa
.
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. Unfair labor practices may involve union-related situations or instances of...
.
Early life and education
Craig Becker was born to Ruth and Sam Becker; his mother, now deceased, was a nurse, and his father a World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran and a professor at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. Becker graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1978, and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1981. He was an editor of the Yale Law Journal
Yale Law Journal
The Yale Law Journal is a student-run law review affiliated with the Yale Law School. Published continuously since 1891, it is the most widely known of the eight law reviews published by students at Yale Law School...
.
Work experience (through 2009)
Becker clerked for Judge Donald P. LayDonald P. Lay
Donald Pomery Lay was an American jurist who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit for 40 years, including as chief judge from 1979 to 1982....
from 1981 through 1983. He then worked at Kirschner, Weinberg & Dempsey (1983–1989), a firm located in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
After his work there, he taught at UCLA Law School (1989–1994) and Georgetown University Law School (1987–1988). He taught at the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
. He has been Associate General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
to the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
and the Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
(SEIU). Throughout his career, he argued many cases in court, including in front of the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. In 2009, he was a member of the Obama transition team, assisting with the review of the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
.
Appointment
Becker was nominated by President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for a seat on the National Labor Relations Board
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. Unfair labor practices may involve union-related situations or instances of...
; a 13-10 vote by a Senate panel on Feb 4, 2010 allowed his nomination to move to the Senate floor. However, his nomination failed to move to a floor vote on a vote of 52-33, falling eight short of the votes needed to block a Republican filibuster. On March 27, 2010, President Obama made a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
of Becker to the National Labor Relations Board. The president’s action enables Becker to serve without Senate confirmation until the chamber adjourns at the end of 2011.
Personal life
Becker resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two sons. His wife, Amy Dru StanleyAmy Dru Stanley
-Biography :She graduated from Princeton University in 1978, and from Yale University with a Ph.D. in 1990.She taught at the University of California, Irvine.She teaches at the University of Chicago....
, is an Associate Professor of history at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. His father, Samuel L. Becker, is a retired professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Studies at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
External links
- National Right To Work Committee
- Senate panel approves labor board nominee Craig Becker, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, February 4, 2010.