The N

What i

What i

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National Labor 

Washington, D
Congress to administer the N

tions Act, the basic law gov

tween labor unions and the 

operations affect interstate co

The statute guarantees 

ees to organize and to barg

their employers or to refrain 

ity. Generally applying to all 

in interstate commerce—oth

roads, agriculture, and Gove

plements the national labor 

free choice and encouraging 

ing as a means of maintain

Through the years, Con

the Act and the Board and 

oped a body of law drawn fr

pamphlet is intended to give 

of the Act to employees, em

the public. 

WHAT DOES IT DO? 

In its statutory assignment, 

principal functions: (1) to de

cret-ballot elections, the free 

by employees as to whether 

be represented by a union 

employers and, if so, by whi

prevent and remedy unlawfu

labor practices, by either em

The Act’s election pro

authority for conducting repr

which determine the views 

regarding representation by a 

fair labor practice provis

restrictions on actions of b

labor organizations in their re

ees, as well as with each oth

The Agency does not ac

in either function. It proc

charges of unfair labor practi

employee elections which 

NLRB in one of its Region

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Resident Offices. (Please s

locations of these offices.) T
g

WHAT DOES THE ACT 

The Act sets forth the basic 

as follows: 

• To self-organization. 

• To form, join, or assist labo

•	 To bargain collectively abo

ing conditions through rep

own choosing. 

•	 To engage in other pr

activities,’’ that is, to act to

of collective bargaining or 

protection. 

•	 To refrain from any of the

ever, a union and employ

where such agreements a

into a lawful union-security 

The Act prohibits both em

from violating these emplo

example, an employer ma

against employees with re

charge, or working conditio

union activities. A union may 

of violence against employe

union activity. These exampl

only. For further information 

union unfair labor practices, 

National Labor Relations Boa

Labor Practices,’’ available 

NLRB office. A related public

Labor Relations Board and Y

Cases,’’ describes the electi

detail. 

WHAT IS THE NLRB’S 

The Agency has two majo

nents. The Board itself has 

primarily on the basis of 

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administrative proceedings. 

appointed by the President t
, p

responsible for the investigat

of unfair labor practice cases 

supervision of the NLRB field 

essing of unfair labor practice 

cases. 

Each Regional Office is 

gional Director who is respon

initial determination in unfai

representation cases arisin

graphical area served by th

any Resident or Subregiona

Region). 

WHAT ARE THE NLRB

PROCEDURES? 

Representation Cases 

In a typical representation 

union, employer, or individua

the field office requesting t

held among a particular grou

ferred to as a ‘‘bargaining 

whether the group wishes to 

wishes to continue to be 

union. A petition filed by a u

must be supported by show

percent of affected employe

tion. 

If the Region’s investiga

petition should be processed

to secure agreement of the p

involved, including the appr

time and place of the electio

of meritorious election petit

agreemeets. If an agreement 

the Region conducts a hear

the record of the hearing, th

issues a decision disposing 

Regional Director’s decision 

the Board. 4 
to determine whether there 

to believe the Act has been 

gional Director determines th

merit, it will be dismissed 

party decides to withdraw th

sal may be appealed to the 

office in Washington, DC. 

If the Regional Directo

cause to believe a violation 

committed, the Region seek

ment to remedy the alleged 

settlement efforts fail, a for

sued and the case goes to 

NLRB administrative law ju

sues a written decision whic

to the Board for a final Ag

That final determination is s

the Federal courts. More tha

unfair labor practice cases 

are disposed of in a median 

the necessity of formal li

Board. Only about 4 percen

ceed to Board decision. 

Since its establishment, 

essed more than 900,000 u

charges and conducted in 

secret-ballot elections. The 

approximately 40,000 cases 

more than 7,000 representat

FOR ADDITIONAL INFO

Please feel free to contact y

the NLRB for further inform

copies of the publications re

Agency also I has publishe

pamphlet, ‘‘A Guide to Bas

dures Under the National L

(available from the Super

ments, U.S. Government Pr

ington, DC 20402). 5 
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Telephone: (202) 

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