About this Guide

Labor unions are organizations of workers formed for the purpose of collectively bargaining with employers over wages, hours, benefits, working conditions, and other aspects of employment. Labor unions are mainly governed by a combination of federal statutes and regulations. This research guide provides a compilation of relevant materials for anyone researching labor unions within a legal context. 

In this guide, researchers will find relevant statutory and regulatory law, as well as information about the federal agencies most important to labor unions. This guide also notes relevant secondary authority such as books, treatises, law review articles, legal encyclopedias, and ALRs. Additionally, this guide contains helpful practical guidance tools helpful for practicing in the labor law field. 

Research Topics 

Research topics related to the law surrounding labor unions might include: (1) the right to organize; (2) collective bargaining; (3) union certification and elections; (4) unfair labor practices; (5) strikes and lockouts; (6) union dues and fees; and (7) the duty of fair representation, among others. 

Getting Started

This research guide provides a starting point for several different research paths. In addition, other helpful research guides created by other law libraries and the Library of Congress are linked on the next page. These might also provide a starting point for legal research in this area