The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935 was established to help protect the rights of employees and employers, encourage collective bargaining, and discourage harmful labor and management practices. It also created the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). When employees work at a unionized company, the union negotiates for wages, hours, and other workplace factors. However, if an employee or group of employees finds that their company is not following parts of the collective bargaining agreement, they can file a grievance. In your assignment, please answer the following questions:
Based upon your experience or recent research, what are some examples of grievances?
If you had to report a grievance to the NLRB, what steps would you take?
Using recent examples, what are the differences between mediation and arbitration?
If you were a human resources (HR) professional, what strategies would you recommend the company take to create a work climate where disputes could be resolved and grievances are a last resort?
Sample Answer
Examples of grievances
- Discrimination or harassment
- Unfair labor practices, such as retaliation for union activity or interference with the right to organize
- Unfair treatment by supervisors
- Unsafe working conditions
- Violations of the collective bargaining agreement, such as pay disputes or issues with benefits or scheduling