{"id":4776,"date":"2016-04-04T11:47:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/unions-basics.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T06:15:26","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T11:15:26","slug":"unions-basics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/unions-basics.html","title":{"rendered":"Labor Unions: The Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Labor Unions: The Basics<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Mills Richmond, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\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

Small business owners\u00a0give very little thought to labor unions. Most unions exist for employees to\u00a0organize and negotiate<\/a>\u00a0with employers. In small businesses, employees are more likely to knock at their boss’s door to discuss higher wages or better working conditions. A small business owner using unfair labor practices\u00a0and labor standards\u00a0won’t have labor disputes. They just won’t have any employees.<\/p>\r\n

Labor unions first formed in Europe in the 1800s. When Europe began industrializing, labor laws favored the new industrial magnates. Wages were low, there was little to no job security,\u00a0and conditions of employment were poor. Workers unionized because the only power they had was as a collective unit. During the 1800s and early 1900s, the union movement spread to the United States.<\/p>\r\n

Today,\u00a0collective bargaining<\/a>\u00a0ensures fair wages, equal work hours, and other job benefits. Large corporations find working with unions effective since they only deal with bargaining representatives. They don’t need to negotiate each employment agreement with individual workers.<\/p>\r\n

The\u00a0National Labor Relations Act<\/a>\u00a0(NLRA) governs collective bargaining and union organizations. It’s backed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a government agency based in Washington, DC,\u00a0with regional offices as well.<\/p>\r\n

National Labor Relations Act<\/h2>\r\n

The NLRA allows employees to decide if they want a union. Employers cannot interfere with unionization efforts. There is no minimum size for a labor union. The only rule is that all eligible members must be non-management workers. A bargaining unit can consist of two or more eligible members.<\/p>\r\n

The\u00a0National Labor Relations Board<\/a>\u00a0(NLRB), which is independent of the Department of Labor,\u00a0enforces the NLRA and safeguards a union’s right to organize. The NLRB is an independent federal agency that addresses unfair labor practice charges. The Board also protects the rights of employees to strike and the rights of non-union employees in a union workplace.<\/p>\r\n

The NLRA does not apply to all workers. The Act specifically excludes from coverage workers who are:<\/p>\r\n