Labor Relations & Disputes

Labor Organizations and Their Oversight

Labor organizations represent millions of workers across the United States. The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) oversees and enforces many provisions of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). This legislation significantly impacts millions of Americans, as it was designed to uphold fundamental democratic standards and fiscal responsibility within labor organizations that represent employees in the private sector.

Major Provisions of the LMRDA:

• A "bill of rights" for union members

• Requirements for labor unions to report and disclose financial information and administrative practices

• Disclosure obligations for employers, labor relations consultants, union officers, employees, and surety companies engaged in specific activities

• Regulations for establishing and maintaining trusteeships

• Standards for conducting fair elections for union officers

• Protections for safeguarding union funds and assets

Additional Federal Agencies Supporting Labor Relations:

• National Labor Relations Board

  • Primarily focuses on the private sector, administering the National Labor Relations Act, conducting elections to determine employee interest in union representation, and investigating unfair labor practices by both employers and unions.

• National Mediation Board

  • Offers guidance to the railway and airline industries regarding labor management.

  • Facilitates an integrated dispute resolution process to minimize work stoppages under the Railway Labor Act.

• Federal Labor Relations Authority

  • Provides leadership in crafting policies and guidance on federal sector labor management issues, including dispute resolution and compliance with the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.

• Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

  • Primarily responsible for mediating collective bargaining negotiations and aiding in the development of improved workplace negotiations.

Our office can effectively address any questions which may invoke litigation. If you have a potential dispute, please fill out the following form below.