Fuller worked for Cincinnati Suburban Press as a reporter in their editorial department. Fuller helped to initiate an organizing drive in 1985 that ended with a failed election in April of 1986. Fuller continued his organizing initiatives in 1987, with a committee “The April 87 Committee.” Fuller and this committed conducted surveys are bargaining unit members, published the results to BU members, handed out pro-union cards during a company event. Fuller also published a review of the 1986 campaign in a local journal that described the company actions during the organizing drive.
The commentary on the next pages will first define employment law and labor law, highlighting the difference. It will then focus on the NLRA, its purpose, coverage, and the role that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) plays in enforcing the law. The remainder of the commentary will review the highlights of the law, including Section 7, which grants most employees the rights to organize, bargain, and strike, and Sections 8.(a) and 8(b) which define violations or “unfair labor practices ” for employers and unions/employees respectively.
Today, the government continues to play a central role in the relationship between employees and their unions and employers. It does so at both the federal and state levels through the passage and enforcement of laws. There are essentially two types of workplace-related laws.
Employment Laws
These laws “set certain minimum standards for employment and establish a basic social safety net for workers” (Katz, Kochan & Colvin, 2007). They apply to employees whether or not they are represented by a union.
Examples of Employment Laws include
- Fair Labor Standards Act that sets a minimum wage.
- Occupational Safety and Health Act that protects the safety and health of employees on the job.
- State unemployment compensation laws that provide employees with a minimum income when they have lost their job.
Labor Laws
These laws regulate the relationship between unions and employers.
Examples of Labor Laws include
- Railway Labor Act (RLA) is a second example of American labor law. It covers most employees in the railway and airline industries.
- National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) is the labor law that covers the vast majority of workers in the United States. It provides the legal framework for the relationship between an employer and a union. This includes most private sector employees except for those covered by the Railway Labor Act supervisors, agricultural workers, and a few other small groups. For this reason it also governs the majority of relationships between unions and employers today
