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Union
Practical Law Glossary Item 2-502-9592 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Union
In the labor relations context, an organization attempting to improve wages, hours, and working conditions for its members by, for example:
- Bargaining with employers or agencies over terms and conditions of employment.
- Striking.
- Picketing.
- Filing formal grievances with employers.
- Filing formal charges with federal agencies including the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) or the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) and the Department of Labor (DOL).
- Filing lawsuits against employers/agencies.
- Federal employees are prohibited from striking and cannot engage in picketing that interferes with an agency's operation.
Private sector unions and the employees they represent are granted certain rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The NLRB administers the NLRA while the National Mediation Board (NMB) administers the RLA. For more information, see Practice Notes, Labor Law: Overview and Railway Labor Act: Overview.
Federal unions and the federal employees they represent are granted certain rights under the Federal Service Labor Management Relations Statute (FSLMRS). The FLRA administers the FSLMRS. For more information, see Practice Note, Federal Labor Relations Authority.