National Labor Relations Board v. Coastal Cargo Co.

**Court Ruling: National Labor Relations Board v. Coastal Cargo Co.** **What Happened:** This case involved a dispute between the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Coastal Cargo Company. The NLRB had issued an order against the company for violating workers' rights under federal labor law. However, when the NLRB made this decision, it only had two members instead of the normal five-member board. **What the Court Decided:** The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the NLRB's order and sent the case back for new proceedings. The court ruled that a two-member NLRB board did not have the legal authority to make binding decisions under federal labor law. This decision followed a Supreme Court ruling in a similar case called New Process Steel that established this principle. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This ruling highlights the importance of having a properly functioning NLRB to protect workers' rights. When the NLRB lacks enough members to operate legally, workers may face delays in getting relief from workplace violations. The decision emphasizes that labor law enforcement agencies must follow proper procedures to ensure their actions protecting workers are legally valid and enforceable.