National Labor Relations Act

Whether you are a supervisor, a business owner, or an HR professional, it is essential that you understand the laws and rules governing how one treats employees and interacts with unions. In a comprehensive and accessible format, Labor Law: A Basic Guide to the National Labor Relations Act provides a practice-oriented foundation on labor law. The book sheds light on one of America's most important laws and one which is also, perhaps, the most misunderstood. This book presents an overview of labor and employment laws such that managers may understand their rights as employers as well and their employees' rights. It covers an introduction to the topic of labor and employment law as well as a brief history within the United States. Other chapters deal with unions and union relations, collective bargaining agreements, grievances, labor arbitration, unfair labor practice proceedings, and strikes and lockouts. The author does not focus on complex regulations and convoluted case law, but distills them to reveal the essence of the NLRA and how it works. As important as it is, at times labor law can seem counter-intuitive. Written by a highly experienced labor lawyer, this book contains concise explanations in an easy-to-use format. Clearly delineating a process that can be fraught with traps for the unwary, it supplies a quick reference that can be used in a crisis situation to understand the parameters of what you can and cannot do.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides workers with minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labour protections. The FLSA covers most, but not all, private and public sector employees. In addition, certain employers and employees are exempt from coverage. Provisions of the FLSA that are of current interest to Congress include the basic minimum wage, sub-minimum wage rates, exemptions from overtime and the minimum wage for persons who provide companionship services, the exemption for employees in computer-related occupations, compensatory time in lieu of overtime pay, and break time for nursing mothers. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) recognises the right of employees to engage in collective bargaining through representatives of their own choosing. By "encouraging the practice and procedure of collective bargaining," the Act attempts to mitigate and eliminate labour-related obstructions to the free flow of commerce. Although union membership has declined dramatically since the 1950s, congressional interest in the NLRA remains significant. This book provides an overview of both the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act with a focus on coverage, amendments and policy.