Glossary of Labor Terms

A 1935 United States federal law that limits how employers may react to private-sector workers who work to organize unions, engage in collective bargaining and take part in other activities in support of their demands. The key principles are encouraging collective bargaining, protecting workers' exercise of freedom of association, self-organization, and designation of representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment.

The NLRB is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices.

Even though it is illegal, the company will tell you that when you negotiate your contract, you may lose your present wages and salaries. This is a lie. When you negotiate your first contract, you start with the wages and benefits that you presently have and you build up from that base.