Obama appoints Iowa City man to National Labor Relations Board

Craig Becker, whose parents are former University of Iowa professors, has been appointed by President Barack Obama to the National Labor Relations Board.

Becker was one of 15 appointments Obama made over the weekend with Congress in recess. The move was controversial because it bypassed the Senate confirmation process, but the White House said in a statement that the nominees had been held up by “months of Republican obstruction.”

Media reports say Becker, a labor union attorney, was the focus of a lot of criticism from conservatives and business groups who believe he'll make it easier for workers to unionize.

Becker's father, Sam, is a well-known retired UI communication studies professor. His late mother, Ruth, was a nursing professor for a short time and was active in helping people with developmental disabilities.