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Federal Agencies & Regulations

There are several federal agencies relevant to the law surrounding labor unions. The applicable agencies, their websites, and corresponding regulations are listed below. 

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

The National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency vested with the power to safeguard employees' rights to organize and to determine whether to have unions as their bargaining representative. The agency also acts to prevent and remedy unfair labor practices committed by private sector employers and unions. 

The NLRB is an adjudicatory agency with the authority to hear and decide cases involving labor disputes and unfair labor practices. Researchers can use the NLRB's Case Search function to find relevant adjudications. 

The U.S Department of Labor 

Mission: To foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service 

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is a small, independent federal agency that plays a crucial role in sustaining the American economy by preventing, minimizing, and resolving work stoppages and labor disputes. These efforts help avoid costly disruptions in production, services, and supply chains, ensuring economic stability and growth. FMCS accomplishes this mission by offering mediation, training, and facilitation services to employers and unions nationwide, fostering collaborative labor-management relationships. Additionally, FMCS enhances government efficiency by providing training, mediation, facilitation, dispute systems design, and other alternative dispute resolution services to federal agencies, allowing them to operate more effectively and serve the public better.