Senate Confirms Detroit Lawyer as Head of National Labor Relations Board.

Byline: John Gallagher

Nov. 16--The U.S. Senate has confirmed Detroit lawyer Robert Battista as chairman of the National Labor Relations Board.

As chairman and one of three Republicans on the five-member panel, Battista could help shift the labor board's emphasis back to a more pro-business stance.

But Battista said Friday that he hoped to avoid partisan battles and bring a spirit of civility to board deliberations. His 5-year term begins Dec. 17 and runs through December 2007.

"I'm excited about it. I think the agency has been a great agency and I'm looking forward to the future," he said.

Given the often rancorous political debates in Washington in recent years between pro-union …