Republican Senators were urging President Barack Obama on Thursday not to recess-appoint Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board.

“We are writing to urge you not to overturn the bipartisan vote against the nomination of Craig Becker to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) through a recess appointment,” the letter read. “To do so would bypass the advice and consent traditions of the Senate.”

The Senate rejected Becker’s nomination in February, voting 52-33 against a procedural motion to consider the appointment. The motion required 60 votes to pass. Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.) joined Republicans in voting no.

Republicans have strongly criticized Becker, a veteran of the labor movement who has worked for the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union. They charge he would abuse his position to enact provisions of “card check” legislation that allows unions to organize through a petition process. In a statement issued Thursday, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) reiterated those concerns.

“Craig Becker stands far outside the mainstream of NLRB nominees,” Hatch said. “Given the bipartisan opposition to his nomination, the Administration would be wise to not circumvent the will of the Senate by recess appointing him to the NLRB.”