May 11, 2010: A 76-year-old transportation law was swept away Monday under a rule change announced by a federal agency.

The National Mediation Board, which oversees labor-management relations in the transportation industry, said future elections will require a simple majority of employees voting in favor of union representation. The upshot is that workers in the airline and railroad industries will have an easier path to organizing.

The previous rule, under the Railway Labor Act, counted any worker who did not participate as a “no” vote.

Read the full article at the Kansas City Star.