NASHVILLE - The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) heard testimony Tuesday on proposed changes to its election rules that could make it easier to form workplace unions, and union members in Tennessee and across the nation are weighing in, signing petitions and filing comments.

One of the biggest changes would allow workers to have their election first, and then address any challenges by employers.

Gordon Lafer, an associate professor at the University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center says now, the NLRB is required to hear any appeal, which means companies file a lot of them.

"The current Labor Board system creates an incentive for frivolous legal delays, which is the standard operating procedure of anti-union management. They say, 'File every legal objection you can; delay always works for you because we have a great advantage over the union the longer it drags on.'"

The proposed rules also would require companies to share eligible workers' contact information with union organizers promptly, and to use e-mail in addition to paper communication. Union representatives say the new changes will mean more fair elections, but those who are anti-union say they'll put businesses at a disadvantage.

Lafer predicts if the rules are passed, it will trigger another round in a fierce battle he says will continue in Congress.

"These are important changes, but they're very modest. When you see how dug-in and how dedicated the business lobbies - and the Republicans who they fund - are to preventing even a modest improvement in the fairness of the system that workers have to go through to form unions, that seems pretty striking to me."

The NLRB takes written comments on the rule changes until August 22. The proposed rule changes and instructions for filing comments online are available at www.regulations.gov.