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The National Mediation Board in a 2-1 decision proposes to change representation election rules in the airline and railroad industries to allow workers to vote “yes” or “no” for union representation and to determine the outcome by a majority of the votes cast.

A notice containing the decision, proposed rule, and request for comments is scheduled to be published in the Nov. 3.

The change was requested in early September by the AFL-CIO and more than 30 unions, who say the 75-year-old policy of requiring a majority of all workers who are eligible to vote to cast ballots in favor of representation for a union to be certified unfairly counts those who do not participate in the election as “no” votes. In its notice, NMB says the proposed rule “will provide a more reliable measure/indicator of employee sentiment in representation disputes and provide employees with clear choices in representation matters.” The board will make a final decision on whether to adopt the rule after taking public comment for 60 days.

Chairman Elizabeth Dougherty, the only Republican on the three-member panel, dissented from the proposed change, which was made by Democrats Linda Puchala, a former president of the Association of Flight Attendants, and Harry Hoagland, a former airline pilot. The change also is opposed by major airlines and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.