{"id":357888,"date":"2017-04-25T12:37:48","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T17:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/what-is-the-nlrb.html"},"modified":"2025-03-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T05:00:00","slug":"what-is-the-nlrb","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/what-is-the-nlrb.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Natalie Moritz<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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The NLRB is an independent federal agency that enforces labor laws concerning collective bargaining and union activities in the private sector. It protects employees’ rights and handles issues from union elections to investigating unfair labor practices, ensuring workers can freely pursue better working conditions and wages.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

If you work in the private sector, you\u2019re likely protected by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB<\/a> enforces federal labor laws. Labor law deals with collective bargaining, unions, and other issues related to organized labor.<\/p>\n

Some labor disputes require more support than others. If you\u2019re facing a complex labor issue or struggling to understand your rights, contact a local labor attorney<\/a> for help.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read on to learn more about the NLRB and how it can protect you as an employee.<\/p>\n

Origins of the NLRB<\/h2>\n

The NLRB, formed in 1935, is a federal agency that enforces the National Labor Relations Act of 1935<\/a> (NLRA). The NLRB followed the National Labor Board, which was deemed ineffective and abolished by President Roosevelt in 1934.<\/p>\n

National Labor Relations Act<\/h2>\n

The NLRA protects "the rights of employees and employers, to encourage collective bargaining, and to curtail certain private sector labor and management practices." It’s the main federal labor law governing private-sector collective bargaining.<\/p>\n

Before the NLRA came into effect, employers resisted recognizing labor unions<\/a> and engaging in collective bargaining, while the legal system also rejected employees’ right to strike. The NLRA granted workers the right to form unions and engage in collective bargaining.<\/p>\n

The Composition of the NLRB<\/h2>\n

The NLRB comprises:<\/p>\n