Basic Glossary of Union/Labor Law Terms

NLRB [3]

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is a federal agency tasked with overseeing and monitoring the formation of unions and ensuring the fair treatment of union workers. The NLRB is also responsible for conducting secret ballot elections, ensuring that elections are fair and free of bias. For more information, visit nlrb.gov.

NLRA [2]

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) is a federal law passed in 1935, protecting workers’ rights to engage in collective bargaining and to seek representation while negotiating for better workers’ conditions. The NLRA, also known as “the Act” (as seen in union filings with the NLRB) protects workers from retaliation while they organize. The full text can be found at [2].

Bargaining unit [8]

The bargaining unit consists of every person in an organization who is eligible to be a union member, and whose job descriptions are covered within the union’s filing with the NLRB. These can vary in size, ranging from single departments or select job descriptions to a wall-to-wall union, which encompasses every eligible employee in a company. It is important to note that managers of employees and employees with access to confidential employee information are ineligible to join a union.

Union Security Agreement [5] [6]

Requires all members of a bargaining unit to become union members in order to remain employed at an organization. New employees have a set period after hiring, usually 30 days, to join the union and begin paying dues.

Union Dues [1]

Union members pay dues to the union. Although what these cover can vary from union to union, they frequently help maintain the operating expenses of the union, such as paying for administration of the union, union employees’ salaries, and (in larger unions such as SEIU or AFSCME) political lobbying.

Agency fees [5] [6]

Fees paid to a union solely to cover representation during a negotiation; this can include collective bargaining and contract administration. These are smaller than full union dues. It is important to note that in many unions, exercising your right to only pay agency fees may result in a lack of full union membership; this can impact any benefits provided solely by the union (as opposed to the employer).

Public union

A union that is formed for employees of a public entity such as a city, the federal government, or a state.

Private union

A union that is formed by employees for a private company, whether for-profit or non-profit.

Strike [4]

Strikes are legally-protected activities in which workers can slow or refuse to work when contract negotiations break down or in protest of unfair/unsafe working conditions. It is important to keep in mind that strikes can only be conducted under certain conditions, and are frequently a last-measure resort for unions. Most unions will hold a vote prior to conducting a strike.

Good Faith Bargaining [2] [12]

Good faith bargaining is a condition that must be met by a union and an employer. This governs the negotiation process; what constitutes good faith bargaining is extensive and can be found on the NLRB website or in section 8(d) and 8(a)(5) of the NLRA.

Beck Right [5] [6] [7]

Based off a 1988 Supreme Court Case, Communications Workers of America v Beck, the Beck right states that when a union security agreement is in effect, members of the bargaining unit can request to see a full accounting of what their dues are paying for, and to request only to pay those dues which go toward representation (i.e., pay only agency fees).

Weingarten Right [10] [11]

If a union employee reasonably believes that a meeting with their employer could lead to discipline, they have the right to request that their union representative attend the meeting with them.

References

1. NLRB FAQ page
2. NLRA full text
3. About the NLRB
4. NLRB Right to Strike
5. NLRB Union Dues
6. CWA Union (Union Security Agreements and Agency Fees)
7. CWA v Beck
8. Cornell Law Institute (Bargaining Unit)
9. Cornell Law Institute (Strike)
10. NLRB Weingarten Rights
11. SEIU Weingarten Rights
12. NLRB Good Faith Bargaining

Additional resources containing labor law glossaries:

SEIU Steward’s Manual
ASFCME Organizer’s Handbook